The Train Scene GoF

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 162528

Betsy Hp:
A general warning: I make some (guarded) references to Ender's Game 
in this post.  I *think* they're oblique enough to not be spoiler-
ish.  But read at your own risk. <g>

> >>bboyminn:
> Oddly, this is one of those rare times when Betsy and I are
> somewhat in agreement. Though, I'm not sure how long that
> is going to last.

Betsy Hp:
Hee!  Not very long, Steve, not very long at all. <g>

> >>bboyminn:
> Let us start with a question; how do you stop a bully from
> bullying you? Answer: Punch him in the nose, and kick him
> when he is down. I know that seems completely counter 
> intuitive, but it works. 

Betsy Hp:
Hmmm, I'm sensing an Ender's Game theme...

> >>bboyminn:
> Notice that Bullies don't pick on each other. No, they
> bully those they preceive as helpless and weak. 
> <snip>
> We see from Draco's personality and from his action that
> he is not a typical bully fashioned after Dudley. His
> form of bullying and intimidation is motivated by 
> different forces, and that leads to a different type of
> bullying, and leads to Draco's chronic inability to learn
> the lesson that it is far wiser to leave Harry Potter 
> alone. 
> <snip>
> While by any standard of social behavior, Harry and the 
> gangs actions were wrong, we can't really apply those 
> rules because those are not the rules Draco is playing
> by, and those rules will never be there to help when help
> is needed. So, we revert to the only set of rules that 
> are able to affect the situation, and that is 'The Code
> of the Playground'. You duke it out regardless of the 
> odds of winning because that is the only law that a 
> bully understands.
> You heard it here first ...or not.

Betsy Hp:
Oh yeah, definitely some Ender's Game influence at play here. <g>  
But here's the thing, while Ender *was* facing dangerous bullies on 
the one hand and an unbeatable enemy on the other, Draco is neither 
of those beasts.  *Especially* to Harry.  Draco isn't strong enough, 
and Harry isn't weak enough.

When Ender goes to the wall he does so because he's got no choice.  
As you say, Ender is in danger of either death or very serious injury 
or the annihilation of the human race.  Harry is in danger of being 
annoyed.  Possibly being pissed off.  That's all Draco brings to the 
table in this scene.

So this idea that Harry needs to react to Draco as a solider going 
into a war is, to my mind, completely overblowing Draco's power.  And 
it also undermines Harry's intelligence.  Harry is fully aware of 
Draco's abilities.  (Even in HBP, Harry is the only one of the Trio 
to recognize that things had changed for Draco.)

I'll also add that Ender would never, *never* step on the body of a 
downed enemy.  There's no message in that.  (Unless the message 
is "I'm a bully!")  There's certainly no honor in it.  And it's the 
sort of behavior the empathetic Ender would find horrifying.

The Trio's and the twins treatment of the bodies of Draco and Crabbe 
and Goyle showed their complete and total contempt for those boys.  
Draco and his friends were so beneath the Gryffindors they didn't 
even deserve simple human consideration.

Betsy Hp (who feels the only bullies in this scene were the twins -- 
I know, I know, they torture small animals in a *funny* way... <g>)