The GoF Train Scene - and beyond (was:Re: Humanity, Kant, Caricatures, and Draco

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 146829

 Betsy Hp:
> Yes, thank you Magpie.  When I say Draco stood for Cedric, I don't 
> mean he wrapped himself in the Hufflepuff flag and started singing 
> the Order fight song.  All that I'm looking for is a tiny bit of 
> positive emotion towards Cedric, a sense that Draco would not have 
> predicted Cedric's death as being Voldemort's opening shot.  
> 

a_svirn:
But I don't really see what you are driving at when you are making 
this point. Yes, I suppose Draco wouldn't have figured Cedric as a 
potential target. It so happened, however, that Cedric was first to 
be killed. What was Draco's reaction? Deep satisfaction as far as 
anyone can tell. He was the fist you are to follow. Enemies of the 
heir beware! 

> >>a_svirn:
> > <snip>
> > The reverse is also true – his parents love Draco. Does that
make
> > Lucius any less of a Death Eater? Or Narcissa any less ruthless?
> > <snip>
>
> Betsy Hp:
> In a strange way, it does. At least, Narcissa will risk her life
> and her family's fortune to safe-guard her son. Sure, she's
> absolutely ruthless about it. But it's a ruthlessness born of
> compassion. (Ruthlessness is not necessarily an evil trait, nor
is
> it one unique to Death Eaters or their ilk.)

a_svirn:
Sure. Death Eaters do not have the monopoly on ruthlessness. Yet it
can only be "in a strange way" for ruthlessness to be born of
compassion. Ruth-less means `without ruth', which is to say without
compassion.

Betsy Hp:
> If Lucius does love Draco than he'd agree with Narcissa's actions
in
> defying the Dark Lord to protect their son. Which would make him
> less of a Death Eater than Bellatrix who wishes she has children
she
> can sacrifice to Voldemort, and Barty who eagerly kills his father
> and makes a mockery of his mother's sacrifice.

a_svirn:
And thus we've established that Lucius loyalties are somewhat less
clearly defined than his sister-in-law's. Big deal. We know it
already. Voldemort knows it already. He's still a murderous Death
Eater for all his slippery ways.