Harsh Morality - Combined answers

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 121292


> Pippin wrote:
> "But Crouch didn't become evil. He did wrong and suffered the  
consequences but he never gave allegiance to Voldemort, and 
when he broke free, he sought to confess and make amends, 
not to get vengeance."<
> 
> Del replies:
> I agree, but he still suffered the type of punishment that awaits 
the bad guys: humiliation, death at the hand of his own son, no 
proper burial, and a name forever tainted among the Good 
Guys.<


Pippin: 
Um, isn't that almost word for word what happened to Sirius?  
Humiliated by his imprisonment in GP, betrayed by his own 
House Elf, murdered by his own cousin (or maybe by a dear old 
friend), no proper burial, and his name forever tainted? I think 
Rowling is telling us something here. Not that Sirius was bad, 
but that you can't judge people by their fates.

Del:
Even his attempt to confess and make amends couldn't save 
him anymore (so much for forgiveness).

Pippin:
Are you implying that Dumbledore wouldn't have offered him a 
second chance if he'd survived?


> Pippin wrote:
> "It's true Snape doesn't seem to quite grasp what he's fighting 
for, but so what? I figure he prefers Dumbledore's principles, 
even though he doesn't entirely understand them, to Voldemort's, 
which he understands all too well. "
> 
> Del replies:
> Snape doesn't apply any of DD's principles in his own life. 

Pippin:
I'd say "all", not "any". He no longer champions pure-blood 
superiority or  seeks world domination. He's abandoned the 
quest for  immortality (he didn't try to steal the Stone for 
Voldemort or get if for himself) and unlike Karkaroff, he's not 
teaching Dark Arts.  Nor has he left Hogwarts for somewhere  
that he'd be allowed to do it.

Del:
Innocent until proven guilty?

Pippin:
  Although he threatened Lupin and Sirius with the dementors, 
when he had the opportunity he took them to the castle instead. 
He often seems to be rushing to judgment with Harry, but after 
all if he can read minds,  the requirement for evidence might 
seem a bit superfluous to him. He was quite right that Harry 
knew more about what had happened to Filch's cat than he was 
telling.

Del:

 Expecting the best of people? Respect of equals and 
"inferiors"? 

Pippin:
In practice, he's no worse  than Sirius or Hagrid. My point is that 
other characters don't have to uphold Dumbledore's principles 
100% in order to be considered worthy.

Pippin