Choice of James as Head Boy (was Re: James, a paragon of virtue?)

[Megan]

No: HPFGUIDX 123773


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> 
wrote:
> Slytherin well... ambition? Resourcefulness? certain disregard for 
> rules? ready to do ANYTHING for your goal? Don't see Albus 
> Dumbledore (or Aberforth) appreciating these values at all.
> 

skater314159:

I have to disagree with you here...

But this is how I see it (in other words, this is just my opinion...)

ambition: Hermione shows ambition in her school work - she wants to 
show people that she is just as smart as any Wizard-born peer - and 
McGonagal and Dumbledore support her by letting her have a time-
turner in PoA

resourcefullness: the trio have been VERY resourceful (checking 
books out of the restricted section, making Polyjuice Potion, etc.) 
in all of the books, and this is what allows them to defeat 
Voldemort and save the day.

certain disregard for the rules: sneaking about after curfew under 
an invisibility cloak (that DD *gave* to Harry for his first 
Christmas...), the forbidden DA meetings that defied Umbridge's 
tyranny, Fred & Georges *excellent* exit from Hogwarts, helping 
Buckbeak "escape" with Sirius under the nose of the Ministry 
officials - these are all examples of a disregard for the rules that 
I think several professors (not just DD) admire, and which were good 
actions.

ready to do ANYTHING for your goal: Harry spent extra time 
underwater to save the others during the Task, Hermione lied to 
Gilderoy to have him sign the slip so they could get the book to 
make Polyjuice Potion, taking a flying car to get to Hogwarts when 
the barrier closed, not letting the Dursleys squish the magic out of 
you, being stubborn during Occlumency lessons just so Snape can't 
get at you... while these may have had some deleterious effects, 
they showed that Harry, Hermione and Ron are willing to sacrifice 
house points, their reputation or even their wellbeing to reach a 
goal that they have set for themselves. 

These are not all of the examples, I know, and I am sorry for not 
citing, but I do not have the books to hand at the moment - but I 
think you can see what I mean.


skater314159
-who hopes her second post doesn't earn her detention with Umbridge