The Beetle At Bay

[elfundeb2]

No: HPFGUIDX 112020

Yb wrote:
> > I am not completely forgiving Hermione. She is rather 
manipulative 
> > in this situation, and she's being a bit Machiavellian (ends 
> justify 
> > the means), and her behavior at the end of GoF (she keeps the 
poor 
> > woman in a far until London, and she's pleased with herself), 
but 
> > she has a good idea: stop Rita from writing lies, get the whole 
> > story out correctly. > > 
> From Karen:
> 
> Maybe she used the wrong methodology because she is 14 in GoF and 
15 
> in OotP,.
> 
> OotP Chapter 29:
> "Then Lupin said quietly, 'I wouldn't like you to judge your 
father 
> on what you saw there, Harry.  He was only fifteen ---.'"
> 
> Let's not be too harsh on Herminone she is only 14/15.


But James' transgressions consisted of a bit of schoolboy arrogance 
and bullying of other students.  Hermione's actions, on the other 
hand, precluded a professional reporter from pursuing her livelihood 
for a full year in revenge because she printed a bunch of tawdry 
gossip (and in true tabloid fashion, she had sources for all facts 
that she did not learn while in beetle form).  It's not up to 
Hermione to take the law into her own hands and decide the 
punishment for an illegal animagus.  

As for the new deal Hermione struck, although *we* know that Harry 
told Rita the truth, Hermione's instructions to Rita required her to 
report "All the facts.  Exactly as Harry reports them."  She was not 
asking Rita to do an objective piece, or become a better 
journalist.  I find this disturbing, and the fact that Harry *did* 
tell the truth, and that the article helped restore the good opinion 
of many people, does not justify Hermione's actions.

Debbie
who doesn't think what James did was justified, either