Was it Slughorn? (was: The potion maker)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 141518

> >>Siriusly Snapey Susan
> > <snip>
> > Anyway, what intrigued me was the resounding support for        
> > Slughorn as a pretty decent chap -- perhaps even the "good      
> > Slytherin" so many have longed to meet.  I sat in the session,   
> > looking around at all those who felt this way, feeling vaguely   
> > uncomfortable with the conclusion but unable to articulate quite 
> > why, beyond a notion that his level of self-interest was awfully 
> > high. 

> >>Magpie:
> I have to say that I think sometimes fandom, possibly in its      
> desire to see that "Good Slytherin" makes Slughorn into a much     
> better man than he is.  Or maybe not. But to me, while Slughorn    
> isn't a villain, what he stands for is something very real and not 
> particularly in keeping with some of the other ideas of the book.
> <major snip>

Betsy Hp:
I've been a proponent of "Slytherin does not equal evil" for quite a 
while.  So I was thrilled that Slughorn was introduced.  At the same 
time, I do agree with both of you that Slughorn is not a perfect 
man.  By a long shot.  He certainly places far too much weight on 
blood, and he does encourage exclusivity.  And he is weak, as is 
shown in his reluctance to share the Horcrux memory.

BUT, Slughorn does not support Voldemort.  And Harry realizes this.  
This is huge, IMO.  Because, until HBP, Harry seemed quite sure (and 
by extension many readers seemed to think) that Slytherin house was 
the first stop to becoming a Death Eater.  The fact that Harry was 
able to recognize Slughorn's weaknesses (and I think Harry *does* 
realize that he's benefitting from his fame and possible his mother) 
but still not classify him as evil is the first step in Harry 
realizing the worth in Slytherin.

For this reason, I doubt Slughorn will be shown to have even *more* 
weaknesses. In other words, I doubt he had anything to do with the 
potion in the cave (unless as another example of saying more than he 
aught to an attractive young man).  

What I'm hoping for is that rather than a single "good Slytherin" 
we'll finally see the good *in* Slytherin, and Hogwarts will be 
healed of the rift made by the founders.  (As you spoke of in much 
more depth, Magpie, here:  
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/141348 )

Betsy Hp