Bathroom Scene - A Different Perspective

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 165155

> >>Carol:
> <snip>
> To return to self-defense, why doesn't Harry mention it? 
> <snip>
> Maybe he also knows (but won't admit to himself) that he should    
> have suspected that a spell labeled "for enemies" was probably a    
> whole lot Darker than a toenail hex.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I think part of it is that Harry wasn't just thinking "self-defense" 
himself.  At least, I think a part of him was wanting to hurt Draco 
rather than just stop him.

Having reread the scene (thank you Alla for typing it out, and gosh, 
isn't Draco a talented young wizard, blocking an unspoken and 
unfamiliar jinx with an unspoken block of his own <g>) it looks like 
Harry and Draco fighting: situation fairly normal.  Yes, Draco starts 
the fight, but Harry engages.  He's standing in a doorway; he could 
have easily exited back through it.  But his instinct is to stand and 
fight.

And I think that when Draco starts to throw the Crucio, Harry is at a 
point where he wants Draco to hurt just as Draco is wanting to hurt 
Harry.  And so Harry "bellows" that curse he knows is for enemies.

Of course Harry doesn't mean for Draco to get ripped open.  But I do 
think he meant for Draco to experience some sort of pain.  Which is 
part of the reason for his horror, I think, and his guilt.  And it's 
probably part of the reason Harry completely blocks Draco's existence 
until the Tower scene. 

> >>Carol:
> And I think, too, though I can't see into their minds, that the    
> entire staff of Hogwarts operates on the principle that it doesn't 
> matter who started it; both students are at fault if they get      
> involved in a fight. McGonagall, after all, gave Neville detention 
> along with the HRH and Draco simply for being out of bed after      
> hours. Rules are rules and (unless her Quidditch team needs a      
> Seeker) there are no exceptions.

Betsy Hp:
I agree.  I think another part of it is that Draco and Harry have a 
history.  While one or the other boy may be more "at fault" from one 
incident to the next, the teachers are probably fairly safe in 
thinking that the "victim" joined the fray with full enthusiasm.  
Figuring out who "started it" is just not something the teachers are 
going to be interested in.  Why bother?  Why did these two become 
such rivals in the first place? It's a mystery. <g>

In a situation like this I'd imagine both boys would be punished.  
And they are.  Draco is seriously injured (and who knows what else 
Snape does) and Harry has detention.  And it works.  Neither boy 
confronts the other after this.

Betsy Hp