[HPforGrownups] "Slytherin" Hermione? (was Re: The Beetle At Bay)

[theotokos]

No: HPFGUIDX 112193

Theotokos:
>  
> Hermione is courageous.  Courage isn't necessarily nicey->nice.  To be clever and strategic is not necessarily to be >cunning.
> 

Potioncat:
Does that imply that to be cunning is bad?  My dictionery says 
cunning: skillful in cheating or tricking.  Ok, so Slytherins cheat and Gryffindors trick?  

If we agree that Hermione's treatment of Rita was justified, does that make it any less cunning?  My point in saying Hermione has Slytherin traits is to say that Slytherin traits aren't always bad.

Theotokos (again):
I had the impression that posters on this list were using "cunning" in a poor light.  Cunning, IMO, has a negative connotation.  Cheating and trickery also have negative meanings.  To cheat is to defraud, swindle, victimize.  To trick is to deceive, mislead, dupe.  Hermione is, IMO, is resourceful and clever.  As for Slytherin's being always bad, I don't know.  That seems to be what we are being presented with however.  Has JKR shown us a good Slytherin?  Maybe they exist but don't fit into the story.  I do have a hard time believing there cannot be some good ones.  Just like I don't think all Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs are good.

Hermione says the sorting hat considered putting her in Ravenclaw.  She doesn't tell us it wanted to put her in Slytherin.  I think Hermione's choice to bend the rules comes out of the situation instead of an inborn willingness to cunningly break rules at will.  Harry, however, was almost put in Slytherin.  Is this just because he had the connection with LV or is he more willing to be devious?
 
theotokos



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