[HPforGrownups] First meetings HP/DM, JP/SS was Re: Always bothered me

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 71322

 
Darrin -
 
And I'm saying that isn't a slam-dunk AND I'm saying Harry shouldn't 
feel sorry in the slightest, just so I'm clear and just so there is 
no doubt that "poor inept Draco" isn't the victim here.
 
Me -

Again I don't think Harry should feel sorry either and I'm not making Draco
out to be a victim.

Let me make myself clear - I am not in any way a fan of draco. I think he is
an arrogant, spoiled racist little brat - but even arrogant spoiled racist
little brats want to have friends.

  
Darrin -
 
"They're dead," said Harry shortly. He didn't feel much like going 
into the matter with this boy.
 
"Oh, sorry," said the other, NOT SOUNDING SORRY AT ALL.
 
Harry thought Draco was insincere about his parents dying. If he 
can't trust this kid on that, then I think he'd have reason to doubt 
most of the other stuff as well. 
 
Me -

I don't see this as a sign of him being insincere. Most adults have trouble
convincingly offering their condolences on the deaths of people they don't
know, let alone 11 year old kids. Draco doesn't know these people and so he
has trouble sounding convincingly sorry because he has no emotional
investment in these people. Most *adults* would simply have felt awkward and
tried to move the conversation on. draco is a child.
Trust me on this. I have been somewhat in Harry's position and all a
stranger is likely to feel is awkwardness not regret.
  
Darrin - 
What wasn't correct? That V-Mort, a Slytherin, a wizard who went as 
bad as you can go, killed Harry's parents? That most of the dark 
wizards started as Slytherins? You referred to propaganda, did you 
not? Well, is that what you meant?
 
Me -

Hagrid didn't say most dark witches and wizards were in Slytherin, he said
all. I quoted him (admittedly I attributed it to Ron) and then said it was
propoganda. Not all evil witches and wizards were Slytherin the person who
handed Harry
's parents over to Voldemort was a Gryffindor. The gryffindors have a lovely
habit of totally ignoring this little fact because it interferes with their
world view. Most people try to alter their opinions to reflect the facts.
Arrogant people try to alter the facts to reflect their opinion.

Darrin
 
Harry had more than enough correct information to make the right 
choice, and make no mistake, it was the right choice.
 
Me -

Actually I'd argue with that as well, but then I think we've established
that you and I agree on very little. I think that were Harry in Slytherin he
might be in a posituion to unite the four houses as the Hat suggests.

And I wasn't arguing that being in Gryffindor didn't reflect his choice. You
said it reflected his views, attitudes, goals and dreams. I do not think
that he had enough information to make the choice based on his goals and
dreams. It is entirely possible that being in Slytherin could have been
advantageous to his goals and dreams.

K