Dark Magic and Snape / Dark Creatures

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 161606

> > >>a_svirn:
> > We've been told how Quirrel came to be corrupted. He "opened 
his   
> > soul to Lord Voldemort". Which means that he *meant* to be        
> > corrupted as much as Voldemort did. 
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Where did you get that quote?  I couldn't find it.  

a_svirn:
I admit it wasn't the exact quote. But Dumbledore did say:

"Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with 
Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason."

And before that Voldemort himself:

"See what I have become?" the face said. "Mere shadow and vapor ... I 
have form only when I can share another's body... but there have 
always been those *willing* [emphasis mine – a_svirn] to let me into 
their hearts and minds...."

So here we have it: a man full of hatred, freed and ambition, eager 
to share his soul with Voldemort. Not a pretty picture. 

> Betsy Hp:
> The idea that only those who mean to be corrupted can be corrupted 
> is... harsh, maybe?  Wouldn't Ginny (who *did* pour her soul into 
> Voldemort) be tainted by Quirrell's brush?  Wouldn't we have to 
> assume that Ginny somehow wanted to be possessed?

a_svirn:
Why on earth should we assume anything of the sort? Ginny didn't 
succumb for the Lure of the Dark. She was *violated* by the Dark, 
forcibly possessed by it. She even tried to fight it when she 
realized what was going on. She wasn't full of ambition or hatred; 
she simply fell for a charming boy who turned out to be totally 
rotten. Happens all the time.

> Betsy Hp:
> Huh... I feel like there's a medieval philosopher or artist or 
> writer (or all of the above <g>) who's discussed this particular 
> road to hell.  Something about empty knowledge or ignorance or 
> something?  Does this ring any bells for anyone?

a_svirn:
I can only think of "little knowledge is a dangerous thing" (that's 
Pope). 

> Betsy Hp:
> The WW isn't divided between Death Eaters and the Order.  Most of 
> the British WW follows the directions of the MoM quite closely.  We 
> see that with how easily the MoM sways public opinion. 

a_svirn:
Quite the contrary, they break dozens of those regulations at a time. 
Just think of the World Cup. As for the opinion it wasn't exactly the 
Ministry who swayed it, it was the Daily Prophet. At that time it was 
in league with the Ministry, but it is not always the case.

> Betsy Hp:
Gosh, even 
> Hermione wants things to be "Ministry Approved".

a_svirn:
When she's not busy kidnapping, blackmailing, hexing and confounding 
other people she does. 

> Betsy Hp:
> It's a bad foundation to stand on, not very sturdy, easily shifted 
> around depending on the political winds.  Recognizing the emptiness 
> of the labels puts the struggle in proper perspective, IMO. Gets 
you 
> past the politics and to the root of the issue.

a_svirn:
Hear, hear!