What *is* the attraction to those Slytherins?

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 68163

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Harry Potter Mail" 
<butsiriuslyfolks at c...> wrote:
> I found it interesting...though I kind of caught the webcast in and 
out..but
> during JKR's interview in England last week, the guy who likes to 
hear
> himself talk a lot asked her if it surprised her that kids dressed 
up as
> characters at her book signings.
> 
> If I recall her reply correctly, she was actually somewhat bothered 
by the
> fact kids dress up as Malfoy.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do 
think that
> the movies have done a number on characters like Malfoy and Snape, 
Malfoy
> being played by a young, handsome Tom Felton, and Snape played by a 
powerful
> actor in Alan Rickman.
> 
> Both of these actors will draw people into some awe following 
("he's so
> cute", I hear young girls crying over Felton).  Of course, you're 
always
> going to have people who like to root for the bad guys, but I think 
JKR is
> doing her best to paint Draco as a pale, slits-for-eyes little 
turkey who
> should be completely unlikeable, and Snape in similar fashion.
> 
> Just MHO, but I think if the characters I have pictured in my 
little head
> from the canon appeared onscreen, they wouldn't have any fansites 
popping up
> on the internet.  :-)
> 
 
I think you are wrong about Snape. First of all, he might be nasty, 
but currently it seems that he is not completely evil (of course we 
have probably to wait till book 7 for a finale judgement). I posted a 
similar post only minutes before: I am male, in no way attracted by 
Alan Rickman, but Snape was my favorite character from the first book 
(which I read way before the movie was out). And considering the 
posts I read on this board I don't seem to be the only one. I think 
he is a highly interesting character, because you don't know if the 
next thing he'll do is something horribly mean or something heroic. 
He is IMO just a wonderfully written character and I enjoy every 
minute of his page time, even those, when I want to jump in the book 
to slap him silly (like after his comment to Hermione about her 
teeth).

I tend to agree with you about Malfoy. But I must admit that it might 
be because I personally hate that character that much and wish he 
would finally die. On the other hand, I think Bellatrix Lestrange is 
a highly fascinating and interesting character, and she is far away 
from being a saint. And there might be enough fans who think the same 
about Draco.

Hickengruendler