[HPforGrownups] Being Good and Evil (was:Re: Harry's arrogance (was Evil ...

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 154784

> Rebecca:
>
> If they were having a secret DADA class, they probably shouldn't  have 
> allowed it to be named Dumbledore's Army  ;) Sorry, found that 
> ironic...but understand it lends to the plot so off we go...

Magpie:
No problem--the name itself is ironic, after all. It's a joke about what the 
group isn't--and then looks bad when they get caught.

Rebecca:
> Let me be perfectly clear here with what I am about to say. IMO, the canon 
> I provided is indicative of the environment in which they are portrayed as 
> believing they need to cope with - Voldemort's back, and we need to be 
> able to defend ourselves. Even Umbridge herself asks them if they think 
> that Voldemort is going to come skating in to attack them during one of 
> their first DADA classes. In comparison, Quidditch is a game - not a life 
> or death reality, like Voldemort and his Merry Band of Death Eaters, that 
> they believe they are faced with.

Magpie:
Oh yes, I understand the difference between the two, and see that's a good 
reason why the kids have the DA and not a secret Quidditch squad. But 
another clear storyline in OotP is that Voldemort's return isn't something 
that everyone believes. The experience of the kids who are in Harry's inner 
circle is different from the kids on the outside, like Marietta. It just 
seems very odd that this character out of everyone in OotP is the one who 
needs such a permenant and serious punishment.  I can't help but think we 
are supposed to wonder this too, because otherwise I wonder why JKR felt it 
was necessary to tell us that this minor character is still hexed.  I fully 
expected it to be dropped by HBP, with the understanding it had cleared up, 
so now I wonder if it's there for a specific reason.  Umbridge herself is 
back and work in HBP (even if I think JKR said she's going to be tortured 
later).

Rebecca:
> I find it interesting that some wish to hold Hermione, as a 15 year old 
> girl, to the same standard of ethical perfection as an adult. I wonder why 
> these "kids" aren't seen by the fandom as just making mistakes or bad 
> judgement while maturing to adults? IMO, it's all about growing up and 
> learning, isn't it?

Magpie:
I think people who have a problem with what Hermione did are happy to see 
her as making a mistake or having bad judgment.  The problem isn't that 
Hermione isn't allowed to grow and learn but that this is a situation where 
she needs to do that.  Within canon this isn't something that's been treated 
that way so far.  Most adults aren't perfectly ethically either (especially 
not in the Potterverse) but relatively few have probably disfigured anyone 
either.;-)

-m