could JKR be making fun of us? / quartets & houses (WAS: Re: Clash of Heirs)

[Oiled Lamp]

No: HPFGUIDX 53317

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nobodysrib <nobodysrib at y...>" 
<nobodysrib at y...> wrote:
> Mostly, I can't think of anyone else among Harry's 
> classmates, Syltherin-sorted or not, that could fill the Slytherin 
> role for an HHR+1 foursome.  (or maybe we'll have to wait for the 
> next book to see this possibility.)

I think Neville Longbottom is a far more likely candidate than Draco 
for several reasons:

1) He's grouped with HRH on a consistent basis, both by plot, 
narrative, and the observations of other characters. The four of 
them arrive at Hogwarts in the same boat. The four of them receive 
the winning points for the House Cup at the end of PS. The four of 
them ride back and forth on the train together. Neville is obviously 
close friends with Hermione (she looks for his lost toad, he's the 
one who knows why Hermione isn't at the Halloween feast, she helps 
him in Potions, she recognizes his discomfort in Moody's class, he 
asks her to the Yule Ball, etc.) I know there are many other 
specific instances, but I can't reference the books right now to 
think of them. I have noticed that the four of them are portrayed 
together in class/common room/dorm/at meals probably more than any 
other non-Trio character in the books (even the twins). 

2) When Harry hears the teachers talking about the Marauders in POA, 
he draws the parallel between Neville and Pettigrew. Although I 
think this parallel can be taken too far (I don't think Neville will 
betray Harry, for instance), this suggests that Harry himself 
recognizes the similarity in the relationship.

3) In Book Four JKR establishes a very strong relationship between 
Neville and Voldemort, one that is arguably just as strong as Harry 
and Voldemort's. Both of the boys were essentially orphaned by YKW 
and experienced a scarring, traumatic event surrounding his first 
downfall. I can't help but think Neville will play a big role in 
destroying Voldemort in the end, and that his outstanding conduct 
will earn him enough respect to be a teacher at Hogwarts (and head 
of Gryffindor House after McGonagall retires). After all, James' 
downfall came when he trusted his friend Peter...maybe Harry will be 
saved when Neville comes through for him the way Pettigrew failed to 
do for his father. Or maybe Neville will be the one who fights 
Pettigrew and wins. There are many satisfying ways that plot could 
play out (although I do believe it will be Ron, not Neville, who 
makes the Ultimate Sacrifice to bring Voldemort to a well-deserved 
end). 

In this vein, I would draw the following House correspondences for 
the modern foursome:

Gryffindor: Ron
Slytherin: Harry
Ravenclaw: Hermione
Hufflepuff: Neville

The older foursome is a bit more difficult, but I think I can agree 
with:

Gryffindor: James
Slytherin: Peter
Ravenclaw: Sirius
Hufflepuff: Lupin

...while keeping in mind that Lupin seems to act the part of  
Hermione in book three (helping him with spells, providing him with 
The Answers, etc.), while Sirius is out doing the paw-work to get 
Harry out of danger, and is largely motivated by his loyalty to 
James, both of which are Hufflepuff traits. Hmmm. There IS some 
ambiguity there.

I'd say that Draco and Snape are essentially the same character in 
their respective generations; they both provide opposition to the 
foursome without being necessarily evil. Their association with 
Slytherin serves to bring attention to their slimey-ness. JKR seems 
to make this distinction a lot in the books. She portrays some 
characters as Good (Dumbledore) and some as Evil (Voldemort), but 
also makes room for Something In Between, even giving the Foursome 
their own foibles, for instance, Hermione's bossiness and know-it-
all-ness, Neville's awkwardness, Ron's discomfort over being poor, 
Harry's distrust, etc. Fudge and Bagman might very well end up being 
Evil, but so far they're portrayed as well-meaning, just like Snape, 
but with some tragic flaws, like Fudge's desire to stay in authority 
and Bagman's desire to make a quick buck. I think Draco is this sort 
of character, motivated to do bad things and provide trouble for the 
Trio, because of his father's influence (and probably lack of 
approval). I'm still hoping that Draco will be redeemed, however, 
much like Snape, and I don't believe that he'll ultimately want to 
follow in his father's footsteps (to be blunt, I don't think he's 
menacing enough to cut it with Voldemort, anyway). JKR's willingness 
to flesh out her characters like this and make them more like real 
people while still portraying their respective archetypes in the 
story is one thing I really admire about her writing style.

Amber