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

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 120727


> Pippin:

snip.

With Hermione, I think what JKR wants to show us  is how easy 
it is to do the wrong thing *even when* one's intentions are good. 
I think Hermione was as wrong to punish Marietta the way she 
did as Umbridge was to use the quill on Harry; in both cases the 
argument is less that punishment was undeserved as that it 
was secret, cruel and unusual. 


Alla:

Pippin, I just realised when I read your last post that I did not 
address one point in this one.

Am I understanding you correctly that in your opinion, in both 
situations Marietta and Harry deserved the punishment, but neither 
Hermione nor Umbrdige had a right to administer it? If I am, could 
you please clarify how Harry deserve the punishment from Umbridge, 
please? If I am wrong, could you please clarify it in general?

You probably know from our earlier discussions that even though I do 
think that Hermione COULD be more frank with the group about the 
punishment (as if telling them what will happen BEFORE they sign), I 
am not really prepared to be very upset with her.

Funnily enough, no matter how much I hate Umbridge, I am more upset 
with Hermione for leading her to centaurs than for doing what she did 
with Marietta. Not sure why.

And going back to my original point, I don't see the comparison 
between two situations, since IMO Harry did NOT deserve the 
punishment AND it was cruel and unusual, and in Marietta's case it is 
arguable whether she deserved the punishment or not. (I'd say she did 
not deserve such harsh punishment, but what she did was quite bad 
too).

Just my opinion

Alla