Marietta and the DA.

[ohneill_2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 121322


SSSusan wrote:

> So, IMO, if she'd been thinking clearly, she should have:  
> 1) been more forthcoming with Harry about the numbers likely to 
come 
> (she'd said he would be surprised, but she'd not given him any 
> indication of how many had expressed interest); 
> 2) been more forthcoming about what they were likely to talk about 
> [*SHE* was the one who first brought up being prepared because 
Voldy 
> was back, for instance]; 
> 3)*not* pushed so hard for everyone to sign, but have really 
> stressed that anyone with any hesitation should get out NOW.  

Now Cory:

I agree with you on these three points; these were errors in judgment 
that Hermione made.  However, with respect to point number 3: 
couldn't Harry, or Ron, or anyone else have also raised the point 
that anyone with hesitation should get out?

SSSusan again:

> Hermione just seemed thrilled that so many people came and didn't 
> seem at all concerned that some of them were people "Harry did not 
> know" or people of whose names he wasn't even sure.  Shouldn't that 
> have been a bit of a red flag, in addition to Marietta's initial 
> look & look while signing, Zacharias' attitude, and even Ernie's 
> hesitation?

Cory again:

YES -- but these things are red flags that Harry, Ron, and anyone 
else in the room could have picked up on too, which is why I have a 
hard time holding Hermione solely responsible for not foreseeing 
Marietta's actions, while holding Harry and everyone else blameless.

I agree with you that Hermione should have been more forthcoming with 
everybody about the purpose of the meeting, the number of people who 
were coming, and which topics would and would not be discussed at the 
meeting.  And I realize that Harry was reluctant, and that she had to 
talk him into it.  The fact remains, however, that at any time, Harry 
could have simply said "I'm not comfortable with this; let's call it 
off," and he chose not to.  We also know that he noticed that 
Marietta didn't seem to want to be there, and he was equally capable 
of telling her that she should leave if she was unsure.

I guess that's my bottom line:  I would hold Hermione responsible for 
the mistakes she made before the meeting, (i.e. before Harry and the 
others really knew what was going on), but from the Hog's Head 
onward, I wouldn't assign any more blame to her than I would to Harry.

--Cory