rape was Love Potions

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 136765

> >>Susan McGee:
> >But in the HP universe, I don't think a love potion can actually be
> >characterized as a rape drug....

> >>Del:
> >I think that's EXACTLY what they are. They have ALL the
> >characteristics of the RL date rape drugs...<snip>
 
> >>Susan McGee:
> Ron may have been humiliated...but the act of rape is to force     
> someon into SEX......until Romilda forces Ron into sex it's not    
> rape... The PURPOSE of rape is not sexual gratification, it's      
> humiliating, degrading and exerting power over the other person. A 
> lot of rapists don't get erections, and many don't have orgasms.

Betsy Hp:
I think you're overgeneralizing.  In the case of date rape I think 
the rapist *does* often get off.  And in the case of Ron and Romilda 
Vane, we already witnessed Ron hitting Harry so hard Harry staggered.

"Ron's fist was drawn right back; his face was contorted with rage; 
he was about to strike again." (HBP scholastic p.393)

What might have happened if Ron had run into Romilda?  Would he have 
felt the need to *show* his love?  Would he have listened when 
Romilda said no?

And what if Harry had taken the potion?  We know that Romilda quizzed 
Ginny about Harry's body, so I'm sure she would have been game for a 
bit more than innocent hand-holding.  And while I doubt a third year 
would be interested in actual sex, would Harry, whose judgement would 
have been seriously compromised, known when it was time to pull 
back?  And again, would he have listened when or if Romilda said no? 
(And honestly, would Harry not have felt horribly violated even if 
the only result of the potion was hand-holding and poetry spouting?) 

I think there was a definite reason love potions were not allowed in 
a school full of hormonal young witches and wizards.  Fred and 
George, by smuggling the potions in against school policy became 
culpible, IMO, of any harm done by a student while under the 
influence.  It was a serious lack of judgment on their part, and yet 
another example of their callous disregard for the safety of others.
 
> >>Susan McGee:
> <snip>
> And I don't think a love potion is a rape drug --- there is no 
> indication of anything more than kissing going on in HP (except for 
> Bill and Fleur who are much older)...and there is no indication    
> that anyone is coercing anyone else into sex. 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I wonder what Tom Riddle would say to that.  Merope managed to get 
pregnant with his child, so I'm betting more than kissing went on 
while he was completely under her control.  I would also point to the 
broken man Tom Riddle became after escaping Merope.  He came home to 
his parents and never left.  A far cry from the gallent young man 
escorting his lady friend through the country side.

Betsy Hp