Reintroducing myself and a question (second impressions of OoP)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 91901

Melanie wrote:
> I just wanted to know if you have read the book over again, or 
what not, if your perspective of it had changed a bit or not?  
>  
> I just finished my second reading of the book, and I must say 
that my thoughts did not really change a great deal in between 
these readings.  However, one thing that did change a  bit upon 
second reading was my thoughts on Hermione.  I adore the girl 
a great deal, but she is quite self-centered and I am becoming 
more aware of that by the day.  She is very concerned with her 
own agenda and what is important to her.  And she is not afraid 
to get what she wants at the expense of other things, I mean she 
DOES break rules.  Lots of them in fact and she consistently 
does somewhat dangerous things.  I realize that she does  
these things with good reason.  And for the most part I do not 
have a problem with her actions.  However, something I do find 
myself wondering if there isn't a bit of Slytherin in her.  <<

Welcome back Melanie! The thing that changed most between 
my first and later readings is how much humor I found in the 
Book. It's funnier each time I read it. 

 I agree with you that Hermione is in some moral peril, but I don't 
relate that to Slytherin potential. The Slytherin creed  "any means 
to achieve their ends" is a de facto recognition that some means 
*are* more ethical than others. They recognize that ethical 
standards are external to themselves.

Gryffindors are chivalrous and Hufflepuffs are loyal, both of which 
imply the same thing: moral judgements are not made with 
reference to the self alone.  Ravenclaw seems to be the only 
House without an ethical policy.   It seems to me that Hermione 
sometimes thinks that if what she's doing doesn't violate her 
personal moral code, it is okay. I wonder if that's typical of 
Ravenclaw.

Pippin