Academic dishonesty.

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 139484


> Eggplant says:
> 
> Harry didn't steal the
> book, it was given to him by the teacher and if there was more in 
that
> book than the teacher knew then so be it.  I see no moral obligation
> for Harry to inform the world that there was graphite in it if he
> didn't want to, and he didn't want to. He did offer to share the
> instructions with Ron and Hermione but Ron couldn't and Hermione
> wouldn't. 
> 
> Beverly replies:
> 
> And...wouldn't it be up to Slughorn to ask what Harry did to make 
it such a splendid potion?  <snip> Slughorn goes on and on about how 
Lily was so adept/instinctive at potions and he even believes Snape 
wouldn't have been able to do as well:
> 
> (Page 319 US Hardcover Edition, at Slughorn's Christmas Party where 
he's talking to Trelawney)
> 
>  "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions!" 
said Slughorn, regarding Harry with a fond, if bloodshot, 
eye.  "Instinctive, you know--like his mother!  I've only ever taught 
a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybill--why 
even Severus--"

Finwitch:

Well, as I recall, Harry was reading the extra instructions aloud, 
wasn't he? Hermione objected that the book says counterclockwise.
So if Harry ended up as the only one who had better instructions, we 
can hardly blame Harry.

And I find it interesting that, the instructions written by Severus 
Snape - Ron can't read his notes! Makes me wonder about Neville - was 
Neville ever able to read what SS had written on the Blackboard?

I also find it interesting that when following instructions young SS 
wrote down, Harry's doing a *better* job than Severus did those days? 
I find that rather odd. And why did Hermione say it's a woman's 
writing? Why didn't any of them recognise the hand-writing? WAS it 
truly SS who wrote them?

Makes me think... maybe it *was* Lily who wrote those notes, trying 
to help young Severus... and Harry could read them because he has 
Lily's eyes.. Slughorn keeps on about Lily!

And I completely agree with Beverly on Slughorn's responsibility. 
It's even possible he *knew* that book had belonged to Severus'. You 
know, maybe he even *asked* for it, having *two* E-students coming to 
need one. I think Ron got to borrow *Slughorn's* old book.

As to why Slughorn was so surprised to a Muggle-born Lily's ability-- 
well, I'd think that many of the so-called purebloods & Half-bloods 
had old books, including helpful notes... I'd say using notes of old 
is old policy at Hogwarts. I mean, one could ask i.e. older students 
in your house, family at home etc. for tips. Permitted resources are 
not, IMO, limited to books. That's what you'd do in working life, 
isn't it? If you don't know the answer to a problem, call someone who 
does. It's practical thinking, not cheating IMO.

Finwitch