Childhood values v Adulthood values in Potterverse WAS: Re: Power vs. Trust

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 143151

> Alla:
> 
> I do disagree with your last example, I have to say. I am assuming 
> that you are specifically talking about Marauders running around with 
> Remus, right?
> 
> I consider those excursions NOT to be the case of selfishness, but 
> poorly executed case of noble intentions - to be there for their 
> friend in the situation of need. And we DO know that Remus needed 
> them not just for fun, but because he was calmer with Prongs and 
> Padfoot around, no?

Pippin:
LOL! If they had been robbing the villagers' homes in order to provide
their impoverished friend with some well-deserved spending money,
would that have been poorly executed noble intentions too? They
were robbing the villagers of their safety and that's just as bad.

I suppose Fenrir just has poorly executed noble intentions, also,since all
he wants is companionship and a better life for werewolves.

Alla:
> As to your general argument, well, some children are selfish, of 
> course, but I do think that in general JKR portrays kids, whom she 
> considers to be good people overall (not saint, just good) as MUCH 
> more capable than adults whom she considers to be the good people.

Pippin:
You do? Could you give some examples? 

> Alla:
> 
> Except IF Harry's feelings about that situation are indeed unjust, 
> Harry already confronted them, well sort of. Doesn't he admit 
> somewhere in HBP that he blamed Snape because it was easier than to 
> blame himself. Sorry, don't have the book with me right now, but will 
> look for the quote if called upon.
> 
> Of course Harry did not get rid of those feelings yet, but he 
> realizes what is going on.

Pippin:
Erm, the narrator knows what's going on in Harry's head,
but it's not clear that Harry does.

The narrator tells us that "Harry clung to those feelings because it 
enabled him to blame Snape, which felt satisfying, and also because
he knew that if anyone was not sorry that Sirius was dead, it was
the man now striding next to him in the darkness."

I love this passage. Harry's thoughts, his inability to let go of his 
grudge, put him next to Snape in the darkness. Who says JKR
can't write?

> Alla:
> 
> Dumbledore learned about Quirrell only when he was about to leave 
> school, no? Unless of course you believe that Snape told him earlier, 
> which I don't.

Pippin:

Huh? According to Dumbledore, he did not get Ron and Hermione's owl,
(not surprising because they never got a chance to send it.) He went
to London and realized immediately that he needed to be back at the 
school. Hermione said that they met him in the entrance hall and
"he already knew-- he just said, "Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?"
and hurtled off to the third floor. "

Ron and Hermione still thought Snape was going after the Stone, but
since Dumbledore trusts Snape, he must have had some other idea 
who "he" was.  

Alla:
> I mean sure Harry in first two books makes lots of mistakes, but 
> Dumbledore tracking record in detecting insincerity and especially 
> DOING something about it is IMO very bad. I guess better if you 
> compare it to eleven-year-old Harry, but worse even if you compare it 
> to sixteen-year-old Harry.
> 

Pippin:
Doing something about it? Voldemort is the enemy, and nothing can
be done about him until the horcruxes are destroyed. If Dumbledore
exposes his followers before he has proof, Voldemort will destroy
them to keep the proof from being discovered. All Dumbledore would 
be doing is helping Voldemort to weed out his incompetent servants. 
He wouldn't be saving anyone.  Voldemort always can find someone
else who is foolish or greedy or malicious enough to help him.

> Alla:

> If Dumbledore knew what Draco was up to, he appeared to be VERY 
> surprised by Dark Mark at the end.

Pippin:
He was surprised  because he knew he was the
intended victim and he knew he wasn't dead.  


Pippin