On lying and cheating

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 165242

People say Harry cheated in potions, but nobody can point to a rule he
violated. There is certainly no rule saying you can only use your
textbook to complete your studies, otherwise Hogwarts wouldn't have a
library. Harry didn't lie, he never told Slughorn "I was only reading
the standard textbook". Harry not only followed the letter of the law
he followed the spirit of the law too. He found a way to do things
that was better than that idiotic textbook and he ran with it. Good
for him!

Well OK, Harry did lie to Snape about the book, but Snape is the enemy
and you should never EVER tell the truth to the enemy as they may be
able to turn it to their advantage. Better to confuse the bastards
with garbage information. If I were Harry I would have absolutely no
moral qualms in lying to Snape about anything and everything,
absolutely positively no guilt at all. In fact it might be fun. I'm
sure Harry feels the SOB doesn't deserve the truth. Besides, being a
convincing liar is a useful skill to have, but Harry isn't very good
at it, he needs practice. Who better to practice on than Snape?

I sure hope I don't hear people responding to this and say Harry must
never lie; this is a war and Harry is in the thick of it, he'll be
lucky if he doesn't have to start disemboweling people. It's in the
nature of war and it makes a thing like telling a fib to a pig like
Snape seem like small potatoes.  

Eggplant