The Trio's Morality

[Kathryn Lambert]

No: HPFGUIDX 162500

Well, I've gotten in some hot water for posting this opinion before, but I'm going to do it again, since we're all talking about it again. 
   
  I know that many people feel that the Trio has acting out of line on many occasions, that they have sunk to the level of Draco and his cronies, that JKR will (or should) show us in the end that that kind of behavior is unacceptable.
   
  I completely disagree. 
   
  First - It's fiction. Fiction has different rules than real life, and I think that the kids who read these books are intelligent enough to realize that. I personally, get a little thrill of "Ha, ha!" when the Cronies are turned into slugs in GOF and JKR describes the Trio and the Twins stepping over them. They deserve it. They're crappy people, who on a continuing basis do nasty and violent things to people. They're bullies, and they deserve to get bullied back once in a while. Again - fiction. It's exaggerated, over-the-top. That's ok in a novel, I think. that's what makes it fun. And real life is obviously different. My three-year-old came home from nursery school last week with a bite mark on his arm from another child. Did I tell him to bite back, or punch the child? Of course not. We went and spoke with his teacher, arranged a meeting with mom and the little boy, and worked it out like civilized people. That's real life - Potter books are about wizards! Fiction! I
 think different rules apply.
   
  Second - In that fictionalized world, there is a lot more at stake than just some bullies on a train. Harry knows about Voldemort, and so do all his friends. They know what's at stake in this fight, and they suspect by GOF that the Malfoys are followers of Voldemort. So, why wouldn't they suspect that Draco and Cronies are going to attack them, even if they didn't have wands drawn yet? I suspect Malfoy at every turn, and always expect him to do something awful. Harry and his friends haven't saved the WW at least four times by being cautious and forgiving. They're fighting a war with evil! They have to be suspicious and aggressive, or they'll die.
   
  Third - They are children. And children need guidance. In this, I will agree with the people who say that the adults in the WW are really poor role models. Even our favourite people, like the Weasleys - they are sort of laissez faire parents, kind of letting the kids do whatever, whenever. They make shows of discipline, but that's all it is, a show. Dumbledore, as much as a adore him in other ways, isn't a very open person, and doesn't put a whole lot of trust into the abilities of children, until HBP, when Harry isn't really a child anymore. The kids in the WW are often brushed off and ignored, even when they're right. These kids seem very much on their own, and have to make their own decisions, which are not always the most wise, since they are children. 
   
  Lastly, I would like to say that I believe the Trio is very moral, even when making poor decisions. These kids are trying to save everyone from a great evil. They are, in comparison to other tweens and teens, incredibly unselfish, kind, and intelligent. When they occasionally act like real teens, people act like they've just had some sort of moral downfall. Can anyone in this group say that they have NEVER, EVER teased someone into tears- even if it was your own sibling? No one had ever made a bad decision? Been unkind? Come on. These kids act like angels all the time, and when they occasionally don't, people jump all over them. They are human, and JKR wrote them that way. I wouldn't be very interested in heroes that were perfect all the time. That's boring. 
   
  Begging everyone to just lay off the poor kids, Katie    

 
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