The Train Scene GoF (was:Re: JKR and the boys (and girls)/Harry, Draco and bath

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 162372

> >>Magpie:
> > In this scene his saying vile things gets him attacked           
> > physically, which isn't self-defense. Draco's awful in the scene, 
> > but it seems like the death threat only pops into existance as an 
> > attempt to find a way the other kids are defending their lives by 
> > hexing the Slytherins intead of just hexing them out of anger and 
> > dislike.

> >>Alla:
> By the same token I can say that Draco making a death threat is
> getting downplayed to get him off the hook. I interpret this scene 
> as sooo much more than just hexing Draco and his goons out of anger 
> and dislike. Yes, there are no wands yet as we discussed earlier,   
> but narrator describes them as more menacing than ever - I can     
> totally see Harry after being tortured, his ears ringling          
> intepreting this as threat as well.

Betsy Hp:
Hmm...  For me, even if Draco is honestly threatening everyone there, 
if he's honestly telling them like it is (and actually, I do think 
Draco sees himself as giving Harry a bit of wisdom wrapped up in 
a "told you so" package), I *still* see nothing honorable or noble in 
the Trio and the twins attacking Draco, Crabbe and Goyle like that.  
There was nothing to suggest, IMO, that Draco meant that the killing 
was going to start right there and then.

Sure, *Harry* had just gone through something pretty terrible and 
frightening.  But what's Ron and Herminoe's excuse?  Or the twins for 
that matter?  If just witnessing their friend's trauma is enough 
would this mean Pansy would have been justified hexing Harry from 
behind after the bathroom incident in HBP?

This is a situation where I know I won't change any minds, but in 
this scene the Trio and the twins acted like brutes.  They physically 
attacked someone's words.  (And poor Crabbe and Goyle hadn't even 
said anything.)  And then they cold-bloodedly stepped on and showed 
no care for the bodies they left behind.  (So much for Gryffindor 
chivalry.)

> >>Alla: 
> I mean, this is of course speculation, but what **else** Malfoy and
> his goons came to their appartment but to start a fight? When Malfoy
> is alone he barely does that, but when there are three of them -    
> that usually means that he is feeling braver, no?

Betsy Hp:
Well first of all, a brave Draco is still just a verbal Draco.  But I 
also don't really care if Draco was looking for a fight or not.  It's 
one of those basic laws of behavior that used to be taught to 
children, you don't need to lower yourself to the other guy's level.  
It's okay and in fact more mature to walk away.  Harry and friends 
seem to be of the thinking, if the other guy pulls a knife, you pull 
a gun.  Which is an entirely different sort of philosophy.

> >> Magpie:
> > In his universe, Draco's not even exceptionally bad.<SNIP>
 
> >>Alla:
> Really? I am sorry, but I do not remember another kid in school
> actively participating in assasination.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Ginny Weasley.  She sent more children to the hospital wing than 
Draco.  And it was just luck (and some effort on Harry's part) that 
kept her from killing her fellow students.

But, I think Magpie might have been refering to Draco's threat 
level.  Do you honestly think any member of the Trio or the twins 
felt that Draco was really a viable threat to their lives?  After 
realizing that Draco wasn't the Heir in CoS, I think he became much 
more of an annoyance to their minds than an actual threat.

> Alla who knows that Magpie read the books and loves talking to her
> about them. :)

Betsy Hp:
Me too, Miss!  I read them too! <g>

Betsy Hp