Punishing Marietta

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120881


Neri wrote:
" The group is obviously something that the Ministry won't like. You
can't be enthusiastic about it, or even just be in it, and also avoid
any risk. This is why choices like this are difficult. Because they
involve risk. "

Del replies:
There's risk and risk. Getting caught when going to the meetings is
one thing. Putting my name on a piece of paper is another. The first
one is reasonable risk, the second one is a stupid and unnecessary risk.

Neri wrote: 
"Hermione made it very plain that by signing they agree not to tell
(the magic probably wouldn't have worked if she didn't). Not only
Ernie, but also Smith had qualms about it, so it is obvious that
signing wasn't mandatory."

Del replies:
They had qualms but Hermione didn't respect those qualms. I personally
think that it is obvious that signing was mandatory. After all they
were putting their names down so that they would know who was there at
that first meeting. Anyone who was there had to sign.

Neri wrote:
"If Marietta were honest, she would have refused to sign it. Yes, it
would have automatically made her become suspect, but rightly so. If
you are not ready to commit yourself to secrecy, you make yourself
suspect for breaking it."

Del replies:
I personally believe that Hermione wouldn't have let her not sign. the
very fact that she even suggested they put their names down was an
indication that she felt strongly about it.

Neri wrote:
"You are making a good case about Marietta being just a weak person
who was caught between contradicting loyalties, but this is life, and
this is war."

Del replies:
It was NOT a war. It's the last chapter of OoP that is titled to
indicate the beginning of VWII.

Neri wrote:
"Hermione had to take precautions, for the good of the whole group,
that a single sneak would find it hard to betray them all, and she did
just that. NOT doing it would have been failing to protect all the
rest of the group. It would have been wrongdoing towards Ernie, Susan,
Lavender, Neville, Ron and all the other members."

Del replies:
Hermione DID fail to protect the DA, by not keeping a close eye on and
not talking to a member who was very blatantly unhappy to be a part of
the group. The trio had doubts about Zacharias Smith because he was
vocal, but they blissfully ignored Marrietta because she was silent.
Big mistake. They should have known better, after Peter Pettigrew.

Del