Marietta and Hermione (was JKR's Messages ) (was Re: Hermione In Trouble?)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120950


SSSusan wrote:
"I sent out a clarifying post right after I first posted the one 
you're responding to, Del,"

Del replies:
Yes, I know, but I saw it only after I posted that reply. Sorry
SSSusan, I didn't mean to look like I was kicking you even after you
admitted to changing your mind somewhat. Really sorry.

SSSusan wrote:
"But let me explain who I meant by THESE kids.  I meant 
Harry/Hermione/Ron/F&G/Ginny -- anyone in Harry's inner circle who 
understood/believed that Voldy was back, that Cedric was killed 
because he was back, that war was on its way.

As for recruiting others, I meant those other kids outside this small
core group who ended up at the Hog's Head that first day.  I wasn't
talking about any later recruiting, but those who came along to the HH
without being a part of Harry's core group, those who were lacking as
much info as they had. "

Del replies:
Ah, OK! I wasn't sure what you meant, and it turns out I did
understand you slightly wrong.

Harry's inner circle obviously had a different understanding of the DA
than the other recruits. That much is apparent in the scene where they
choose their name. 

Angelina, who is a Gryffindor, has some personal reasons to dislike
Umbridge (she keeps putting her Seeker in detention), and might be in
a fix if she intends to take a NEWT in DADA, proposes the
Anti-Umbridge League.

Fred, who knows about the war, proposes the Ministry of Magic are
Morons Group.

Cho, going back to the stated motive for the formation of the group,
proposes the Defence Association.

And Ginny, who knows about the war and has a wicked sense of humour,
is the one who proposes Dumbledore's Army, which makes people laugh.

The gap seems quite obvious to me between those who know about the war
and want to fight the MoM and LV, and those who think that the DA is
only about learning practical DADA and defying the Hogwarts High
Inquisitor.

SSSusan wrote:
"I'm starting to see more of the "Good Intentions/Misguided Efforts 
Hermione" that we see with SPEW in this initial HH meeting, too."

Del replies:
I agree. Hermione had good intentions, she wanted to do something to
fight Umbridge's growing power at Hogwarts. And she also wanted to
practice DADA. But mixing up the two wasn't a good idea.

In her defence though, I guess I understand why she did it : because
she knew of the reason why Umbridge was preventing them from learning
practical DADA, and she reacted to that reason, while the DA recruits
reacted only to the results of Umbridge's actions. DJU was trying to
discredit DD and to take all power away from him. So in Hermione's
eyes, DJU's maneouvers were obviously political, and any
counter-action would similarly be political. What she failed to
realise is that some of the DA were blind to that political aspect and
were only concerned with the results of DJU's decision of stopping
them from practicing DADA. Michael Corner, for example, interrupted
Hermione while she was explaining the importance of learning to defend
themselves in general, to point out that she wanted to pass her OWL.
To him, at that point, the only reason Hermione was putting up that
group seems to have been what she had officially told them while
recruiting them : to do some practical DADA. He was completely unaware
of anything political.

Moreover, that situation wasn't likely to change. Only the kids in
Harry's inner circle knew about the Order, for example. Only they were
able to follow the unfolding of the war in the news. The other kids
had no way of reading the signs, and the Order kids never seemed to
have explained to them anything more than what was said during the
first meeting. The only additional piece of information that the DA
members ever received was the Quibbler's interview. And when they read
it, I guess they reacted just like the WW in general did : some
believed Harry's testimony, and some didn't, because they didn't have
any additional info to help them judge better. 

Del