witches of the world (was: Lavender vs Hermione)

[phoenixgod2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 160566

 
> Betsy Hp:
> Okay, I thought about this some more, and I've realized that it's 
> not *all* blank slate.  For example, the reason I like Narcissa is 
> because of her actions in Spinner's End.  To grab Becca's (I 
> believe) description of Molly, Narcissa is a lion when it comes to 
> her child (and possibly husband).  So I see something to admire 
> there.

Phoenixgod2000:

Why oh why am I forced to defend people I dislike?

Narcissa, as much as I love the fandom version is not all that 
admirable in canon. Sneaking around to a friend of yours to make 
sure he completes the assassination  your son was tasked to do isn't 
exactly the act of a 'lion'. its the act of a weasel to afraid to do 
something truly brave and do something proactive. there isn't a 
reason in the world that Narcissa couldn't have taken up Draco and 
fled to america or australia or something if she was so worried 
about his life. We aren't talking about Merope Guant here. We are 
talking about a witch who could definitely live off the land as it 
were.

She could have asked Snape for anything as that third part of the 
unbreakable vow and the fact that she still asked for the 
assassination of Dumbledore speaks volumes about her actual 
sympathies.

Molly on the other hand has joined, along with her husband and most 
of her children, a fight against a terrorist leader.  Her sons could 
die. Her husband could die.  She could die.  Her brothers did die. 
But she joined because it was the right thing to do. Thats real 
bravery and something Narcissa couldn't understand with all the 
magic in the world.
 
> With Pansy... I agree with Magpie's thing about Pansy's 
> vulnerability.  (Unlike Hermione: smart *and* pretty *and* above 
> feeling the need to be pretty *and* popluar with all the cool boys 
> *and* above the need to be popular with all the cool boys *and* so 
> above being girly with the girls... -- blech.)

I actually agree with you about this except for the pretty thing. 
Being able to doll up for one evening does not a beauty make. and 
people were, after all surprised that she looked as good as she did, 
which implies to me that she isn't someone who is attractive on a 
day to day basis.

  But there's another 
> thing Pansy's got going for her.  Girl's got a sense of humor.
> 
> Sure, Umbridge's interview of Hagrid was horrible, but it was also 
> funny.  And Pansy easily saw the humor in it.  She's often 
described 
> as laughing, IIRC.  Whereas Hermione rarely is.  (Actually, 
Hermione 
> doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor at all.)

I used to think that as well, but that isn't really true. maybe 
someone better than me at looking up posts can find it, but when I 
made the same point (hermione has no sense of humor) someone found a 
surprising number of citations were Hermione was written in to 
laughing or joking with Harry and Ron. they just tend to be imbeded 
in throw-away lines about the day to day life of the school which is 
why they don't stick in the mind the way major plot points do.
 
> You know, another part of this may well be the "enemy of my enemy" 
> thing, too.  I really dislike Molly.  And Narcissa is sort of the 
> anti-Molly.  In a situation that would have had Molly crying in a 
> heap on her kitchen floor, Narcissa put on her kickiest witch-
boots 
> and headed off to rescue her son.

Once again, Narcissa didn't put on her witch boots and do anything. 
she found a man she could bat her eyes at and had him do it for her--
not exactly the most stirring example of bad ass witchery.

Meanwhile Molly has risked herself and her family to fight the guy 
half of Narcissa's family is working for.  She is better than 
Narcissa by about a zillion miles. 

>Hermione reeks of disapproval of 
> Pansy, and since I'm *positive* she'd have disapproved of me, well 
> then, Pansy must be doing something right. <g>

I am confused about what possible thing Pansy could be doing right, 
but I digress. I really don't like Hermione, but I would take her in 
a serious situation over anything other female student in hogwarts 
every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Phoenixgod2000, who has finally found a situation where he will 
defend Hermioe and Molly.  Luckily no such situation could ever 
possibly come up for Ginny.

<shivers slightly as a soul-draining wind swiftly begins to blow>