[HPforGrownups] Re: Bathroom Scene - A Different Perspective

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 165174

> Alla:
>
> Before Harry used Sectusemptra, he used leg locker and levicorpus, I
> think he could not be any less agressive. IMO of course.
>
> But as I had been saying, I do not have a problem with acknowledging
> that Harry was agressive towards Draco, but only in response to what
> he
> did.
>
> But hey, if you are saying that the scene is **not** completely about
> self-defense, at least I can understand completely what you are
> saying
> and where you are coming from. I disagree very strongly but I
> understand your POV, so I can easily say **till later round** :)
>
> See, the problem I had been having in earlier arguments with Magpie (
> and it is totally my problem) is that I had been getting an
> impression
> that she was saying that it is self defense and not self defense at
> the
> same time. I had been struggling to understand how person can defend
> himself and had an intent to hurt. That is what I am struggling with.
> because in my head the person who is defending himself by definition
> does nothing more than **defends** himself.
>
> If you are saying that Harry is the same agressor here as Draco, I do
> not buy it, but at least I see it as consistent with how you describe
> a
> scene.

Magpie:
I think it was my problem--and clearly I should have just let Betsy explain 
it, because this is totally what I meant. The circumstance in which Harry 
unleashes his aggression is a self-defensive one, but Harry's guilt comes 
from his own aggression, which had horrifying results. He could have chosen 
a number of different spells that would not have had the results this one 
did--and yes, he did use less aggressive spells earlier, as did Draco.

I think Harry's knowledge of his own aggression is what makes him 
uncomfortable, and that the question of *why* Harry reached for Sectumsempra 
is a valid question in the scene--just as, from Draco's pov, it is important 
to ask why he cast Crucio. He hasn't ever been this violent towards Harry 
either, and Harry hadn't done anything in the scene at all. One of the cool 
things about the scene for me is that it really *isn't* a fight the way they 
fight in the past. Why did Harry curse Draco? Because Draco cursed him. Why 
did Draco curse Harry? Because Harry was there. Both boys are, imo, fighting 
about things that go beyond that scene.

-m