Dark Magic and Snape (was:Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra)

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 161368


> Magpie:
>  Hermione reports that he says counter-hexes are 
> hexes but that people use that name to make themselves feel better 
> and pretend they're really not hexes.  Which having read the books 
I 
> would agree with.  Counter-hexes do always basically seem to be 
> hexes that you throw at other people rather than, for instance, 
> blocking spells.  Hermione then continues on to say that she 
doesn't 
> agree, followed by a total non-sequitor of "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't 
> like hexes, does he?  But I think they're quite useful, especially 
> in self-defense."

zgirnius:
I believe there is an implied background position by Mr., Slinkhard 
which makes Hermione's comment logical. Recall that the chapter 
titles of his book suggest that it is Mr. Slinkhard's (great name!!) 
position that one should in fact never use magic in combat-problems 
can be solved by retreating, negotiating, compromising, etc.

My takeaway from that was that Mr. Slinkhard's position is:
1) Hexes are bad;
2) Counterhexes are hexes;
therefore...
3) none of them should ever be used, and his book is all about how 
not to use them.

So Hermione is disagreeing with the whole philosophy. Whether or not 
hexes and counterhexes are the same thing, Hermione sees a use for 
them in defense.