JKR's Messages (was Re: Hermione In Trouble?)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 120724



> SSSusan:
> I can see your point somewhat, Pippin, especially about 
Marietta.  I  think Hermione did go too far with that, and I think 
JKR *is*  showing us that Hermione's intentions aren't enough 
with SPEW, either, as I mentioned in #120669. I'm not sure I'd 
put Hermione's  actions re: DJU and the centaurs into this 
category, though.  In  cases like that, if Hermione gets a 
comeuppance, fine.
> 
> What I'm saying is I hope I didn't imply that I believe there is a 
 blanket "Everything they do is okay" hanging over the Trio, but 
 rather that since JKR does call them "innately good" and does 
talk  about fighting for what's right even if the battle will never
be 
won, that she does make a distinction that "bad" or "wrong" 
behavior  can definitely be good and right behavior if one's 
intentions are to  fight evil/wrong.  
> 
> Maybe I misinterpreted what JKR meant by "the battle that will 
never be won" though  -- I assumed she meant the battle against 
evil and  hypocrisy and ignorance and prejudice, those things 
which will  unfortunately always be with us.  But maybe you've got 
a different  take on it and can shed a different light on her 
remarks there.<

Pippin:
I think what she means by innate goodness is that the Trio's 
sense of right and wrong is maturing on schedule and hasn't 
been damaged. They are revolted by cruelty, as  Draco and 
Snape are not, and their ability to form attachments to others and 
their desire to see fair play are intact and broadening.That 
makes them very different from Tom Riddle. I think what JKR is 
saying is that the battle against the Riddles and their followers 
can never be won completely, because the only way to keep 
them from exploiting the rights and freedoms the rest of us enjoy 
is to deny them to everybody, and if we do that, they've won. 

SSSusan:
> But anyway, I guess my specific question in response to your 
post  here is:  Would JKR really be telling us via the 
Hermione-turns-into- a-cat episode that she's being *punished* 
or getting her comeuppance  for stealing?  I mean, she may be 
the one who stole the ingredients,  but the other two were equally 
involved in the process --  accessories, as it were -- and so if 
what she/they were doing was  morally wrong & worthy of 
punishment/comeuppance, wouldn't JKR have  had all *three* 
experience such consequence?  <
> 
Pippin:
Harry *did* get  a punishment. He's quite sure Snape 
embarrassed him in front of the duelling club for throwing the 
firework. Ron didn't take part in the theft, IIRC, so it makes sense 
that nothing much happened to him. 

Pippin