I still dont like Fleur

[Bob Alberti]

No: HPFGUIDX 134589

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "rochesteruponmedway"
<rochesteruponmedway at y...> wrote:
> Sorry, but I find her behaviour in snatching the bowl from Molly, with 
> the comment "And I will do that" insensitive and arrogant (both 
> qualities she has been displaying throughout).  Molly is his MOTHER

You're missing the point of the scene and the symbolism.  Genesis 2:24
says "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." That's what the
scene was about, and that's why Fleur redeemed herself in Molly's eyes
by the action you consider insensitive and arrogant.

Many elements were explained by that action.  The first is that Fleur
has been aware of the rudeness directed towards her by many of the
Weasleys, and that she has been forgiving them - or at least
tolerating them for Bill's sake - all along.  Fleur can't help it that
she's a ravishing part-Veela, who inspires lust in men and envy in
women (well and a few cases of lust in women and envy in men, but JKR
doesn't cover that territory). 

The second element is that Molly really HAS been thinking very badly
of Fleur.  It's one thing to dislike your future daughter-in-law, it's
another entirely to actively assume that she's only marrying your son
because of his looks.  How "arrogant and insensitive" is it to stand
over a woman's gravely wounded fiancee and accuse her of not actually
loving her future husband?  If Fleur had slapped Molly across the
face, she would have deserved it.

Third we see that Fleur actually does love Bill, and that she also
knows her role as his wife.  It's actually HER job to care and comfort
him - his mother has to step back in the hierarchy.  Molly accepts
that, why can't you?

Finally, we see that Fleur is well aware of her looks and the effects
that they have had on people.  "I am good-looking enough for both of
us," expresses both her loving determination to forge ahead with Bill,
a grim sense of humor, and a gentle rebuff of the rudenesses that have
been done her over the past year on account of those looks. They are
not an undeserved privilege, they are for her both sword and shield.

But if you still don't like Fleur, just keep one thing in mind:
there's little point for JKR to kill off yet another major character
at the END of Book 7, as there will be not subsequent books - and that
book probably BEGINS with Fleurs wedding...

--Bob Alberti
http://albatross.org