Special treatment - yes or no

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 146022

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Magpie" <belviso at a...> wrote:

> 
> Magpie:
> 
> No, I emphasized that they [Slytherin] had officially won the
> contest (which is why the banners are hanging), and that the
> winning was fair because they won. There's no subplot about a
> fixed house contest suddenly being made fair. ...edited...

bboyminn:

Even though you have somewhat established it in other posts, I think
this is the flaw in your assumption. The game was not over; Slytherin
has NOT won. The game isn't over until the final buzzer sounds, and
the final buzzer hadn't sounded yet. School was still in session,
points could still be awared for good behavior and taken for bad
behavior. 

So, Slytherin came into the Leaving Feast with a strong lead and the
/assumption/ that they had won. This logical and reasonable
/assumption/ was re-enforced by the fact that there colors were
flying. Further, at that point in time, it was logical for their
colors to be flying on the /assumption/ that their strong lead made
them the clear winner.

However, Dumbledore, as well as all the other professors, were well
within their rights, to my way of thinking, in awarding and taking
points at that time. So, in my view, the game wasn't over, and we and
they had only assumed who the winner would be.

Was Slytherin VERY disappointed? They certainly were, and justifiably
so. But did you, or they, really expect to live their lives without
disappointment? If they, or you, did then you both have a very
unrealistic view of life, and with that supposed attitude, will
certainly be extremely disappointed in your life; consistently and
miserably disappointed.

Did Harry break the rules? Yes. But the good that came out of it far
out weighed the breaking of the rules. Rules are meant to create an
orderly and cooperative society, but those particular rules were not
etched in stone when Moses went up the mountain. They are just school
 rules, the fate of the world doesn't hinge on them. 

Harry saved (or at least, helped save) one of the most precious
artifacts in the wizard world. There is only one known Philosopher's
Stone in existence, and Harry saved it from being captured by the most
dangerous and notorious criminal who ever lived. That is worth far
more in value than the detriment of being out past curfew.

Ron and Hermione aided Harry tremendously in achieving this goal, and
certainly deserved their share of points for their actions. Without
their help, Harry would have never succeeded in a task that the world
desperately needed him to succeed at. With Ron and Hemione's help
Harry saved the Stone and prevented Voldemort from gaining power. I
don't know about you, but that certainly carries far more weight than
the violation of a few petty school rules. 

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville all deserved those point for the
brave, SELFLESS, and heroic actions they took, not on their own behalf
or in their own interest, but in the interest of the wizard world and
their fellow students. Certainly you must see that selfless heroism
like that is worth far more than a few correct answers in class and a
few won Quidditch games.

So, just before the 'final buzzer' Harry and friends scored a few last
minute points, that's the nature of the game. Sometimes you win and
sometimes you lose, and sometimes victory is snatch away by a last
minute unexpected goal. THAT'S LIFE, get over it.

Just trying to establish some perspective.

Steve/bboyminn