The Good Slytherin - Stringy & Weedy

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 84984

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wendy" <hebrideanblack at e...> wrote:
> > Brooke wrote:
> > >  
> It is about time that we were introduced to a Slytherin with some 
> moral fiber. <snip>  
> 
> Justcarol replied: 
> 
> > I thought the boy was Theodore Nott, whom I mentioned before as 
> > the son of the injured Death Eater ..., but I can't find
> > the thestral reference. Anybody?
> 
> 
> Now me (Wendy):
> 
> ... I think the boy who could see the Thestrels is Blaise Zabini, 
> who got sorted into Slytherin in Harry's first year. ... what's 
> that? You want canon?
> 
> Okay <G> 
> 
> CANON: Harry does not know thestral guy's name. (OoP, The Eye of the
> Snake, page 445, US hardcover): "There were only two other people
> who seemed to be able to see them: a stringy Slytherin boy standing 
> just behind Goyle was watching the horse eating with an expression 
> of great distaste on his face . . . . "
> 
> The fact that Harry has been in CoMC class with him for three years 
> now (and presumably taken Potions with him for five) and *still* 
> doesn't know the kid's name indicates to me that Mr. Zabini (or 
> whomever thestral guy turns out to be) has never done anything to 
> attack or insult Harry, either on his own or in conjunction with 
> Draco and his "gang." ...edited... Therefore, Blaise Zabini 
> aka Thestral Guy must be good.
> 
> There you have it. A Good Slytherin. With canon! (Sort of). <G>
> 
> Wendy

bboy_mn:

I'm with you Wendy, if the Thestral Boy was a really bad guy, he would
be flying a lot higher on Harry's radar screen. The fact that Harry
doesn't know him, tells me that there are Slytherins who are keeping a
low profile and just trying to get through school with as little
trouble as possible and hopefully decent grades.

As I pointed out before we have three Slytherins (presumably all boys)
who are mention during various sorting ceremonies and are never heard
from agian.

They are - (from memory)
- Blaise Zambini (SS/PS)
- Graham Pritchard (GoF)
- Malcolm Baddock (GoF)

Graham and Malclom are named directly as part of the sorting ceremony,
but look at the sneaky way that Blaise gets mentioned-

- SS/PS;  scene - Ron has just been sorted -

Harry clapped loudly with the rest as Ron Collapesd into the chair
next to him.

"Well, done, Ron, excellent," said Percy Weasley pompously across
Harry as "Zambini, Blaise," was made a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall
rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

- end quote -

The total focus is on Percy as Blaise's name is mentioned as a very
secondary background event. It could be the natural flow of the story
that we are seening, or it could be JKR planting an important name
that will come back to haunt us in the future.

It's possible that all three of those boys will turn out to be the
Slytherins who stay in the DA Club after Malfoy and his friends leave.

As far as the Thestral Boy being Theodore Nott, lets look at what we know.

When Hagrid introduces the Thestrals, the Slytherin boy who can see
them is described as, "... a stringy Slytherin boy standing just
behind Goyle...". Later after the Qibler article has come out, Harry
sees Malfoy and friend in the library (Pg515 UK HB)

-OotP - Scene - Hogwarts Library -
 
He saw them (Malfoy and friends) with their heads togehter later that
afternoon in the Library, they were with a weedy-looking boy Hermione
whispered was called Theordore Nott.

-end quote-

Thestral Boy = stringy
Theodore Nott = weedy
Both are in close proximity to Goyle, and therefore Malfoy. Although
the proximity in the Library is far more critical than in the forest
during the Thestral lesson.

"Stringy" and "weedy"; both seem to imply thin. So I don't know if we
can reach a solid conclusion from the information we have. 

One could easily conclude that they are one and the same, which
identifies the Thestral Boy as Theodore Nott. However, if he was the
Thestral Boy, certainly Harry would have commented on it, at least in
narrative. That, amoung other things, make me think Nott as Thestral
Boy is not the correct conclusion.

Now, my own personal bias leans toward them being different people. My
position is, that JKR used the Thestral lesson as a means of
re-introducing Blaise Zambini, and I'm also a big fan of the
mysterious Blaise being the Good Slytherin. Trouble is, that's just a
gut feeling; can't prove it. But I do find the backhanded indirect way
that Blaise was introduce to be suspicious, and that more that
anything make me think he is significant. (Circular Logic) And if he
is significant then Thestral Boy would be a good way to plant him into
our more immeditate consciousness, and prepare the way for a more
promenant role in the future. (Where the heck is that next book!?!)

Just a thought.

bboy_mn