Slughorn: a different look at Slytherin

[iamvine]

No: HPFGUIDX 133653

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, xirene101 at c... wrote:
> One thing I noticed in HBP, and rather enjoyed, was the fact that Horace Slughorn 
represents a departure from the usual "evil" Slytherin students and alumni we have seen. 
He's not potrayed as evil, just ambitious. He is more than ready and willing to use his 
contacts for his own personal benefit. But he has been on the run for a year to avoid the 
DE's, which implies he does not want to choose their "side" in the war. 
> This "new" look at Slytherin house is a welcome change. Thanks, Jo!

I agree - also remembering Phineas Nigellus, the other comparatively nice Slytherin we've 
met - and I wonder how much the usual Slytherin image has to do with Snape.  With the 
way Snape behaves in class, he's setting a terrible example to his house members, giving 
them absolutely no encouragement to curb their spiteful tendencies or try to get along 
with students in other houses.  Slughorn as housemaster would have had his weak points, 
but I'm sure he would at least have taught the kids manners, especially the Slug Club 
members he expected to climb the social ladder.  He would not have expected evil 
from them either (although many of them still turned out that way) - look how shocked he 
was when Riddle asked him about Horcruxes.

We don't know what proportion of adult Slytherins are Death Eaters.  It might be fairly low, 
with a lot more gravitating towards the Ministry - people like Fudge and Crouch were 
probably Slytherins.  Lockhart probably was too.  I predict that few of the Slytherins who 
attended Hogwarts under Snape will rise far through Ministry ranks - unless they have 
gold to ease their way - because they won't have the necessary social graces.

Eleanor (returning after a long lurk)