The Sneak Mark (was "Slytherin" Hermione?)

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 112755

Just to muddy the discussion, here is a definition of contract:

1a. An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is 
written and enforceable by law. b. The writing or document 
containing such an agreement.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/53/C0605300.html

<<HunterGreen:
It was *not* a contract.
[OotP, chpt 16, pg 346, US edi.]
" 'I-I think everyone should write their name down, just so we know 
who was here. But I also think,' she took a deep breath, 'that we 
all ought to agree ot to shout about what we're doing. So if you 
sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge -- or anyone else -- what 
we're up to.' "

That's hardly a contract. It was just a piece of paper actually.>>

Bookworm:
According to the definition, the "piece of paper" is the
record of an agreement.  As you quoted, "So if you sign, you're 
agreeing not to tell Umbridge -- or anyone else -- what we're up
to."

Hermione tells them outright that they are signing an agreement, 
i.e. a contract.  And she specifically mentioned Umbridge.  Whether 
or not the contract is `legally' enforceable depends on WW
law. But Hermione took care of that in her own way – which was 
definitely sneaky.

Tonks:
>>Also, after the kids signed the paper "there was an odd feeling in 
the group now. It was as thought they had just signed some kind of 
contract." (p.347)<<

Hermione was a salesman to be sure. She did not force anyone to 
sign, but she did *encourage* Ernie to sign after he objected. After 
he made the choice to sign "nobody raised objections after Ernie..."

HunterGreen:
It may have *felt* like it, but the fact that its mentioned "*as 
though* they had just signed some kind of contract." (emphasis mine) 
would imply that its NOT a contract, otherwise that statement 
doesn't make sense.

Bookworm:
This is something that should have raised a red flag. JKR often 
uses "as though", "as if" or "like" to give
us a hint. Here she told us that they *had* just signed a contract. 

Hermione is opinionated but I wouldn't have considered her 
persuasive before this.  In this scene, and in the scene with Rita 
Skeeter, we see additional depths to her character that haven't
been obvious before. (We had a hint when she trapped Rita.) She has 
learned to make a hard sell. The results seem to be drastic, sort of 
like shaving the heads of women who had affairs with German soldiers 
in WWII. Is it a punishment, a warning, or both?  

As a group we argue both (1) that these are just teenagers, not 
adults, and shouldn't be expected to act like adults, and (2)
that they are in the middle of a war, have to grow up quickly and 
act like adults. Hermione's actions are more like an adult's.
Viewed as a teenager's prank, the Sneak mark goes too far. But 
viewed in a war-time setting...?

Ravenclaw Bookworm