Grey VS Good Slytherins

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 131478

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "phoenixgod2000" <jmrazo at h...>
wrote:
> ...edited...
> 
> From what I understand of the debate, a number of people seem to 
> think that the 'good' slytherin is going to be more of a grey figure 
> than an actual good one, but a character who is going to oppose 
> Voldemort for various, mostly practical and slightly mercenary 
> reasons. I don't think that is going to be true. 
>
> ...edited...
> 
> And the best of Slytherin *will* be better than grey.
> 
> phoenixgod2000  

bboyminn:

"Good" is such a broad word, that it makes discussion of it difficult.
I am a big supporter of the existance of one or more Good Slytherins,
so keep that in mind as you read my 'grey' position.

To some extent, my 'grey' position was intended to counter the often
leap to conclusion that either all Slytherins are the hell-spawned
sons of satan or that any 'Good Slytherin' will certainly be a flowers
and bunnies, hugs and kisses, Mary Poppins clone.

This is best illustrated in 'Redeemed Draco', there are those, who for
whatever reason (too much Harry/Draco Slash most likely), think that
if Draco rejects Voldemort and the Death Eaters, he will instantly
become one of the 'flowers and bunnies' crowd, and that certainly, he
and Harry will be such great friends that they will suddenly be
snogging in the broom closet.

No, no, no... to all these things. What I am saying is that many of
the Slytherins are just normal kids with the same good and bad that we
find in all normal kids. True, they do have their unique Slytherin
ambitions, but that's not a bad thing. Further, we don't see them
because they mind their own business and keep their heads down. The
fact that they laugh at Draco's jokes, the jokes at
Harry/Ron/Hermione's expense, doesn't tell me they are evil, nor does
it tell me they support Draco, it tells me that they are normal kids.

Further, the uniting of the Houses should not reasonably be
interpreted as being united down to the last man and woman; a
nother assumption that many people leap to. Even if only a small
percent of Slytherins reject Draco and Voldemort, that still
represents the four Houses coming together in a common cause. 

These 'good' Slytherins will be against Voldemort, against the Death
Eaters, and against Draco. Their key positive points won't be the
standard ambition and cunning, though certainly that will be there, it
will be intelligence, a clear head, and a free-thinking independance.
Because of this, they will cooperate with the Good Guys and act
against the bad guys. In all likelihood, those Slytherins and the
other Houses will develop mutual respect for each other. Each side
will consider the other side 'good' but with a small 'g'. They will
eventually learn to trust and appreciate each other. Each will develop
a greater understanding of the other person as an individual and as a
representative of their house. To all these, YES; but don't look for
any skipping through the garden hand-in-hand, or snogging in the closets.

My goal is not to set a perfect shade of grey, it's to rein in the
extremes on the issue of The Good Slytherin. I see Good Slytherins in
a /very positive/ light, but again, that doesn't mean hugs and kisses
all around.

So, strange as it may sound after all I've said, I do agree that Good
Slytherins will be more than a bland shade of grey, but they certainly
will not be the universally hopeless evil or gushingly friendly
extremes that some have implied.

Once again, just trying to bring some perspective to the subject in
general.

Steve/bboyminn