CHAPT. DISCUSSION: Chapter 25, The Beetle At Bay

[theotokos]

No: HPFGUIDX 112077

> theotokos said: 
> Okay, I understand (sort of) your position.  However, as has been
> pointed out, these are KIDS (not shouting, just emphasizing).  To
> compound that, these KIDS do not have a great track record for 
> being listened to.  Who would believe them?  > 

Potioncat:
> I don't really have any objection to what Hermione has done, myself.  
> It's just that it is a Slytherin thing to do and we react to it a 
> certain way because it is Hermione and not Pansy Parkinson. DD is 
> very Slytherin in his approach to things.  Sometimes I think the 
> overall opinion is: If the good guy does it, it's OK.  But if the 
> bad guy does it, it isn't OK.
>
> I keep changing my own reaction as I go between "within this story" 
> and "in the real world."


theotokos:  
I, also, go back and forth.  Initially when you said we wouldn't think 
of Hermione's actions quite the same if Pansy Parkinson committed them, I 
thought well of course not because Pansy would never put herself out there 
to help anyone. . .but perhaps she would.  I can see her doing such to help 
Malfoy, but only because she fancies him.  Phineas Nigellus tells Harry 
[paraphrasing] 'we Slytherins are clever, yes, but not stupid.  We would
never endanger ourselves for some noble purpose.  We are self-preserving.'  
He told Harry this as Harry was readying to leave GP after learning from 
the extendable ears at Arthur's hospital door, that Voldemort could be 
possessing him.  
 
When we first meet Hermione, she is obsessed with following rules.  She has 
since gotten better at going against this tendency to break rules when *she 
feels* it is necessary.  This could be look upon as courageous.  Courage is 
not "not being afraid" but going forward with what must be done in spite of 
fear.  Courage is not concerned with the individual and their comforts, but 
concerns itself with what needs to be done.
 
It may be weak philosophy, but sometimes the end does justify the means.  It 
is like Sirius says "The world is not divided between good people and death 
eaters."  Hermione does what needs to be done, not for selfish ends, but for 
the good of the whole WW.  This evil wizard comes back from the dead, kills 
a fellow student, takes blood from Harry, has tried to kill Harry (her best 
friend), wants to kill people like her, and no one will believe them!  The 
people in authority, whom Hermione has always trusted, are refusing to 
believe.  It is her basic nature to trust superiors.  She always assumes 
Snape is okay, if a bit unpleasant, because he is a teacher.  She says, "But 
He is a teacher" over and over again throughout the books.  Now here is 
Fudge, the Minister, spreading lies.  She once received her news from the 
Daily Prophet.  Now she cannot trust that because horrible people like Rita 
spread fowl lies which most of the WW believe.  How disheartening.
 
In a normal situation I would agree with you.  Making deals with the "bad 
guy" is not choice--although, come to think of it, the authorities do it all 
the time.  They make judgment calls and decide whose wrong is worse and when 
to make concessions.  Basically, I think Hermione has a good understanding 
of the working of society even if she doesn't understand individual groups 
much (SPEW).  Really, she is fighting the same the arguments about House 
Elves and their happiness as was leveled for slaves in the US.  It just so 
happens, the arguments appear to be correct in this case.  But I digress--
another topic.  I think Hermione knew she couldn't go to the authorities and
 when the idea to put Harry's story out there came, she called on all her 
resources.
 
theotokos