Sportsmanship in Harry Potter

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 151765

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:
 
a_svirn:
> "Harry got tips *and* solutions on a silver platter. Cedric got tips
> but came up with solutions by himself."

Steve/bboyminn:
> It's pretty clear we don't agree on this subject in general, but
> that's OK, it would be a dull conversation if everyone agreed. In
> fact, if we all agreed, wouldn't the conversation be pretty much over?
> 
> I do understand what you are saying and the points you are trying to
> make, but I have to disagree (big surprise) on the idea that Harry got
> 'solutions on a silver platter'.  Yes, he did get help, but we can
> safely assume the other champions also got help as well.

Geoff:
Most certainly they did. look at the points made in canon:

'"Cedric," said Harry, "the first task is dragons."
"What?" said Cedric, looking up.
"Dragons," said Harry, speaking quickly, in case Professor Flitwick came out to see where 
Cedric had got to. "They've got four, one for each of us, and we've got to get past them."
Cedric stared at him. Harry saw some of the panic he'd been feeling since Saturday night 
flickering in Cedric's grey eyes.
"Are you sure?" Cedric said, in a hushed voice.
"Dead sure," said Harry. "I've seen them."
"But hoe did you find out? We're not supposed to know..."
"Never mind," said Harry quickly -  he knew Hagrid would be in trouble if he told the truth. 
"But i'm not the only one who knows. Fleur and Krum will know by now - Maxime and 
Karkaroff both saw the dragons too."'
(GOF "The First Task" p.298 UK edition)

':I didn't cheat," said Harry sharply. "It was -  asort of accident I found out."
Moody grinned. "I wasn't accusing you, laddie. I've been telling Dumbledore from the start, 
he can be as high-minded as he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime won't be. 
They'll have told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want to beat 
Dumbledore, They'd like to prove  he's only human."'
(ibid. p.301)