Slytherin Stereotypes WAS Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore's awarding ...

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 57399

Oryomai wrote: 

 
 
> Oh ... I see what you thought I meant.  Okay, I didn't mean that 
there was a good Slytherin deed in that scene, I merely meant that 
the open endorsement of Gryffindor could have discouraged any good 
Slytherins from making themselves known.  Even I know that there is 
no good Slytherin deed in the banquet at the end of PS.  Dumbledore 
certainly could have given the points to HRH and Neville before the 
Great Hall was all decked out in Slyth colors.  
> That's a *smidgen* cruel.  To let the Slytherins think that they 
have won and  then suddenly take it away - for ... well, I won't get 
into what I think about rule breaking - even if it brings the results 
that the Trio's rule breaking brings.
> 
> ~*~*~Oryomai~*~*~
> 


I think Dumbledore was doing two things here, besides giving Gryff 
the victory.

I believe he was giving the Slyths a tough love lesson, namely, the 
quality of your points matters more than the quantity. I believe 
Dumbledore looked at what the Trio and Neville had done and said, 
this should be rewarded.

But he was also, I think, giving a preview of the speech he gives at 
the end of GoF, showing the group that Voldemort will most want to 
recruit from that it is better to take the right path than the easy 
path.

There's been a lot of talk about Snape actually being a good teacher 
by being cruel. Well, then Dumbledore's lesson should really hit 
home, if that's true.

Maybe one of them will remember and I'll get that good Slyth! I DO 
hope we get one, by the way. I'm sorry if I come off like I gleefully 
stomp on the Snake Heads.

Second, while it was a touch cruel to the Slyths, you have to 
remember that Harry and Ron both suffered injuries in their quest -- 
Harry's put him under for several days -- and even Neville got the 
Body Bind Curse put on him.

The alternative to what Dumbledore did would have been to pull the 
Gryffs aside and say, "Well, you won. Good show" or some other way to 
break it gently to the Slytherins.

That defeats the point he was trying to make in front of the whole 
school AND fails to honor the sacrifices Harry, Ron and Neville made 
with their bodies.

Darrin
-- Snake Stompers. Yeah, good band name. Sorry, Slytherins.
P.S. Lion Slayers would be a good one too. So would Badger Bashers 
and Raven Reamers.