Viktor Krum (first random musing from newbie Occam)

[queenofeverythang]

No: HPFGUIDX 77045

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "subrosax99" 
<subrosax at e...> wrote:
> --- 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

I agree with everything you said Occam about Viktor & 
Hermione's relationship but It does seem like more of a 'duty 
calls' thing than a boyfriend&girlfriend relationship. Hermione 
was flattered that Krum liked her so much, but didn't seem to feel 
the same way about him- She seemed more interested in 
talking about their schools and life where he is and... well, I just 
dont think she's the type of girl who would fall for a guy who can't 
even say her name properly.

I also wondered about Krum's role in the last 2 books - but I had 
a less heroic view of what his role might be. Their 
correspondence may very well be a good thing that helps defeat 
LordV but my thoughts lean towards a more dangerous outcome 
(don't know why, maybe I'm just a pessimist). I (like ron, ok 
maybe not like ron) didn't trust Krum. I see the potential for good, 
in that he doesn't support the dark arts that his school promotes, 
but he also seemed a little singleminded and pushy. Maybe he 
just brought back bad memories of a few stalkers I've had in my 
youth, but I just didn't see him as such a good guy. He seemed 
more like a  Mad-Eye Moody character - just when you think he's 
cool you realize he had it in for ya' all along.

Am I the only one? If so I'll just go deal with my issues ; )

-QoE