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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 162386

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > <SNIP>
> > 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?
> > <snip>
 
> >>Alla:
> What is their excuse? If Harry being traumatised is not sufficient 
> excuse, then  the fact that Hermione is the one who is being 
> threatened with her life and Ron loves her ( we do agree on that, 
> yes? Even if Ron cannot quite figure that out yet) and twins I     
> think figured that out even if Ron did not. So that would be their 
> excuse IMO.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
The interesting thing to me, is that the thing that immediately 
sprang to mind reading your reply is that this is exactly how the 
blood-purists feel.  They're acting in self-defense against the 
influx of muggleborns threatening their way of life and their loved 
ones.  Sure, the muggleborns haven't attacked *yet*, but their 
attachment to their muggle families suggests that they would betray 
the pure bloods to the stake.  So they pure-bloods, out of love, hit 
first.

I guess I just feel like the Trio and the twins took their response 
too far.  Why did they act?  Why not just threaten?  By acting they 
became the very thing they say they're fighting against.

> >>Alla:
> Yes, it is Okay to walk away. It is not always possible to walk    
> away, when you went through such trauma so recently and now the son 
> of one of those who witnessed your torture comes by and starts      
> issuing threats to your best friend ( as I see it of course).

Betsy Hp:
Sometimes it *is* hard to walk away.  And children don't always 
manage to do so.  But shouldn't the instinct be to help them learn 
*how* to make the right choice?  Not the easy, smear the guy, choice?

I mean, it's not like I don't understand the reactions of Harry and 
Ron and Hermione.  I just don't like the dismissal of it, or even 
worse, the praise of it.  They don't act correctly in this scene.  I 
just feel like that should be recognized.

> >>Alla:
> <snip>
> When is Ginny Weasley of her own free will plans assasination      
> attempts? ( when she is not under the influence of Tom Riddle?)
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Oh, Ginny is in the same boat Draco is.  She's fully under the 
influence and control of Tom Riddle or Voldemort.  It's just, 
Voldemort relies on manipulating Draco's love with Draco rather than 
out and out mind control as he does with Ginny. (Though there are 
still the moments where Ginny could have told someone and didn't.  So 
I don't think the control was complete.  Just as Draco had his 
breakdown moments in the bathroom.)

Betsy Hp