Depth? Things to take on their face value (Was: Sirius' loyalty)

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 139795

Nora wrote:
I can think of other things. Dumbledore's assertions about Harry:
his heart saved him and not his mind, Harry has a fundamentally pure
heart. Enough potential treacle to make us look for a hankie, but
all also intended in utter sincerity.

I'd offer the proposal that there are many things in the series which
JKR as the author *intends* to be taken at their face value, and
accepted by the reader. Correspondingly, this means that the
subversive readings (which do not accept these things) are highly
unlikely to receive any validation or confirmation in canon. Of
course, nothing can stop the determined theorist.

I'd love to hear what things y'all might put in this category.

To pick back up...

vmonte:
I have another one:

Regarding Draco Malfoy

Dumbledore: " 
--the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing 
precisely those things that are worst for them." (297, SS) 

JKR: "
having talked the talk [Draco is] asked to walk it for the 
first time and it is absolutely terrifying."
http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-
anelli-2.htm
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/draco.html

Draco wants to be a DE but when the time comes for him to "walk the 
walk" he realizes what he's gotten himself into.

________________________________________________________


Other thoughts on Draco, Zabini, and Snape 

Draco's intense hatred of Hermione has always made me very 
uncomfortable. I realize that part of the reason why he hates 
Hermione is because she is smart and talented and this goes against 
his ideology of what a "mudblood" should be. Also, is it possible to 
hate someone yet be unconsciously attracted to them at the same time? 

On Blaise Zabini-

"A lot of boys like [Ginny Weasley]," said Pansy, watching Malfoy out 
of the corner of her eyes for his reaction. "Even you think she's 
good-looking, don't you, Blaise, and we all know how hard you are to 
please!" 
"I wouldn't touch a filthy little blood traitor like her whatever she 
looked like," said Zabini coldy, and Pansy looked pleased. Malfoy 
sank back across her lap and allowed her to resume the stroking of 
his hair. (p150, The Slug Club)

This guy also makes me uncomfortable.  (I know that this is a 
coincidence but Cedric, Harry's rival for Cho, helped Harry out 
during GoF, in one of the tasks. It would be cool if Dean Thomas were 
to kick Zabini's ass.)

And what about Snape?

How did he feel about Lily? Was his attraction to her also sick?  
Misogynistic?

Pippin:
In other words, for Harry to discover the good Slytherins, he may
have to learn to think about Slytherin behavior in a different way.

vmonte:
I understand what you are saying, and I do think that Harry can/will 
see Slughorn as a good person, although with Slytherin-like 
characteristics. Anyway, chances are that when the fighting gets down 
and dirty there will be many Slytherin students that will fight for 
the right side. I'm sure that the majority of Slytherins are not  
psychopaths or terrorists.

I'm not so sure about Snape though. Having Harry bend over backwards 
for a man that had a part in his family's death, and who continues to 
attack Lily and James via their son, just seems like immoral behavior 
to me. Saying that Harry needs to go out of his way to learn to think 
about Snape's behavior in a different way is like saying that Snape 
is not responsible for his own actions. And I think that is the wrong 
way to think. 

Vivian