Viktor Krum (first random musing from newbie Occam)

[subrosax99]

No: HPFGUIDX 77000

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "occam6363" <pisola6363 at n...> 
wrote:
> This the first of a few random musings and questions from a newbie, 
> inspired by reading some of the messages and my third reading of 
OoP. 
> I'll be sending a few messages with different subjects to keep the 
> threads neat -- will I get an O or extra credit from my list elf 
> (greetings Merry Elf!!)?
> 
> VIKTOR KRUM
> 
> What's the buzz out there on Viktor? I think he's got all the 
makings 
> of an important character and I'd be interested in others' opinion.
> 
> Hermione still corresponds with Viktor because she likes him and 
> because it fits in with her strong social consciousness -- 
> corresponding with Viktor promotes the aim fostering friendship 
> between schools and nations, maintaining a united front against LV. 
> She might even see this correspondence as her duty, apart from any 
> personal attraction to Viktor. She certainly threw her heart and 
soul 
> into SPEW and the defense of Buckbeak, and was keen to remind H and 
R 
> throughout GoF, particularly more towards the beginning, that the 
> Triwizard Cup was meant to encourage fellowship between the 
wizarding 
> schools. I do not agree that she could be saying anything that even 
> indirectly deals with OoP or the fight generally against LV, too 
> stupid for Hermione, too dangerous. (I admit the possibility of 
> Dumbledore perhaps giving her some kind of charm to protect the 
> correspondence, but then I'm at a loss as to why Dumbledore would 
> facilitate OoP-type activity by someone who is not of age.)
> 
> The most interesting things about Viktor are 1) he's out of school 
> and of age, and 2) he's always seemed ashamed of the dark side of 
> Durmstrang and certainly mortified by the unmasking of Karkaroff's 
> true nature, 3) even though he's a WW-famous Quidditch player, he's 
> always slouching around and seeming gloomy -- in this respect, he 
> reminds me of athletes of the former Soviet-bloc era, who were 
> identified young and vigorously groomed for the glory of the state, 
> not necessarily their own happiness, and 4) he's shown exceptional 
> good taste as well as unguessed-at depths by falling for Hermione --
 
> who'd have picked a slouchy jock to be the first one to ask 
Hermione 
> out on a date?
> 
> Viktor seems to be a very well-developed and sympathetic character 
> for someone who's not seen that much page time yet, and I hope we 
see 
> more of him in the last books. It would be a waste of a potentially 
> heroic (maybe tragic, like Cedric) character if we don't. I'd be 
> surprised if the only thing he did when he got out of Durmstrang 
was 
> to continue as the Bulgarian seeker.
> 
> -- call me Occam

I am thrilled that you brought this up! I was just thinking about 
this the other day after doing a re-read of GoF. I thought the 
romance between Viktor and Hermione was absolutely charming! I would 
love to see more of him in the next books, and I don't mind saying 
that I would rather see Hermione with Viktor than with Ron. He seems 
much more complex and interesting to me. It would be a waste of a 
great character if he doesn't show up again.

Allyson