witches of the world (was: Lavender vs Hermione)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 160431

<snip discussion of Molly and Narcissa since I have nothing to add
(and like Molly)>

> > >>Tesha:
> > She read a book that was in the "Banned Area" She took some        
> > material from a teacher's private stock.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Ah, but see you're already watering down.  Hermione *stole* supplies 
> from Snape's stock.  Supplies that might be monitered for a reason.  
> Who knows their expense or their volitility.
> 
> You might argue that it was for a good cause, and I might even 
> agree.  But Hermione did steal.
> 
> > >>Tesha:
> > She made and made available a spiked treat.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Right.  She caused both Crabbe and Goyle to be unconsious for a 
> certain length of time.  Again, her ends might have been worth it, 
> but she still caused harm to two fellow students.  (By encouraging 
> Harry and Ron to cause a distraction in Potions, Hermione also took 
> part in physically hurting members of her Potions class.)
> 
> > >>Tesha:
> > <snip>
> > There was no violence, there was no physical harm (except to      
> > herself) - and she is just a child - I think that's pretty        
> > remarkable.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Again, you're watering down.  Hermione did cause physical harm.  You 
> knock someone out, you've harmed them.
> 
> Yes, her plan *was* remarkable.  But I think it's important to at 
> least acknowledge that she did some wrong things to implement the 
> plan.  Especially since Hermione seems to be heading down a slippery 
> slope of ends making all of her means right and good.
<snip>

Carol responds:
Essentially I agree with Betsy, but I would add that the Polyjuice was
brewed specifically to infiltrate the Slytherin Common Room and spy on
Draco. Granted, spying and eavesdropping is rather common in the HP
books (it constitutes one of the parallels between Harry and Snape,
for one thing), but in this case it involves borrowed identities (as
well as borrowed shoes). 

What would Hermione's defenders think if Draco had resorted to similar
tactics and Polyjuiced Crabbe, Goyle, and himself to look like
Gryffindors to spy on Harry? Wouldn't readers be up in arms at the
invasion of privacy? Why is Draco's privacy not sacrosanct, just
because he's a Slytherin and the son of a Death Eater? Common rooms
are off limits to students from other Houses, and just being there
violated a school rule, just as it would have done if Draco and co.
had entered Gryffindor Tower.

To quote our dear ex-Potions master, I see no difference.

Carol, who thinks that Hermione's cat whiskers and tail should have
provided her with a taste of her own medicine but fears that she has
another lesson coming in Book 7