Punishing Marietta

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120839



Nora wrote:
"Marietta ... also failed to keep trust in those who kept trust in her,"

Del replies:
Just to nitpick : whatever she did, she was *bound* to do that,
because she had 2 different sets of people expecting diametrically
opposite things from her. On one side her parents had made her promise
not to do anything against Umbridge, and on the other side Cho and the
DA expected her to approve of and even participate in a
self-proclaimed anti-Umbridge organisation.

Nora wrote:
" Rowling's Big'n'Obvious Point in OotP is that Authority does not 
always do the right things and should not be followed blindly--no, it
 is practically a moral imperative to deny it at times.  A point with
a fine and long tradition in political theory, of course."

Del replies:
Agreed, but we're talking about very young people here (Percy and
Marrietta), who have a vague understanding of politics and morality.
They are in the process of developing their own morality out of the
familial and social moralities they are presented with. They are
*bound* to make mistakes, but they shouldn't be eternally condemned or
called evil because of those mistakes IMO.

Neri wrote:
"I think it is safe to assume that the sneak jinx was so powerful
because the jinxed party had taken a choice to sign a statement that
she won't do what she actually did. It was Marietta's own signature
that gave the power to the jinx."

Del replies:
I would agree, if things had been that clear when they signed. My
problem is that what they signed was supposed to be simply a list of
who was there at the first meeting, but Hermione added on to it the
condition that whoever signed agreed not to tell. She muddied the
issue, and that's where I disagree with her.

Let's say I was there at that meeting, but as I discovered the reality
of what those kids wanted to do, I decided I didn't want to be a part
of it. What should I do concerning the parchment? If I sign it just
because I'm there, I'm agreeing not to tell anything to anyone, even
after the group became illegal, and even if I start having real
concerns about it, especially considering that one of my best friends
is involved in it.

Now let's say that I'm completely enthusiastic about the group, but I
really really don't want to risk, say, my parents discovering about
it. Ernie might think that Hermione's word of keeping the list secret
is enough, but I don't agree with him. What should I do? If I don't
sign it, then I automatically become suspect by not wanting to admit I
was even there, even if in fact I'm enthusiastic about the group and
all I want is to avoid any risk of anyone ever discovering what I'm up to.

By using a single parchment to make 2 different statements (presence
and secret), Hermione muddied the implicit promise, which makes this
promise invalid in my eyes, since there's no way to know if the kids
signed just to say they were there or also to promise.

Del