No progress for Slytherin? (Was: Slytherins: selfish, not evil)

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 173176

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> Magpie wrote:
> > <snip> I don't think anything was integrated, the personal
> redemption of brave Snape notwithstanding. <snip> I guess to me, as
> soon as Slytherin was introduced the way  it was, that was obviously
> the problem that needed to be solved, the one Voldemort was just a
> symptom of. I felt the book did it backwards, getting rid of the
> metaphor without ever much considering the way I expected them to
> handle it. And looking at interviews after the fact, JKR never seemed
> to expect them to.  I don't have a problem with self-interest, myself,
> but I wasn't on the same page about Slytherin either.
> 
> Carol responds:
> I think that the epilogue reflects a natural, slow progression toward
> prejudice against slytherin. It's hard to wipe it out all at once, but
> if Snape received a posthumous Order of Merlin that's on display in
> the trophy case and has a portrait in the headmaster's office (after
> all, it allowed him to occupy it and DD's and Phineas Nigellus's
> portraits, at least, recognized him as the legitimate occupant), that
> will go a long way toward showing that Slytherins can be brave and loyal.
> 

Ken:

I agree with Carol. In its understated way I think the epilogue says a lot
about how things are changing. Snape turned out to be good and a 
vital part of the fight against Voldemort. Slughorn was there at the end
and we don't *really* know that no other Slytherins straggled back with
him. Five horcruxes were destroyed by Gryffindors, the remaining two
by Slytherins. There came a point where everything depended on 
Narcissa choosing right over easy. She chose right, can you imagine
what would have happened to the Malfoys if Harry had failed after she
lied for him? What was that squeeze she gave him anyway? Involuntary
twitch or sign of affection and encouragment? Phineas (does a portrait
count?) certainly played a key role. 

Harry and Draco acting civil towards each other?

Harry telling his son it is ok to be a Slytherin?

Harry naming his son Severus?

Ron joking about Rose marrying Scorpius?

Things have changed folks. A vague epilogue doesn't give you the certain
resolution to the house split that many of you wanted, it does allow you
to imagine that any resolution you hoped to see has/is/will take place.

Ken