[HPforGrownups] Re: Villain!Dumbledore (was: re:HatingDH/Dementors/...Draco/.../KeepSlytherin Ho

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 177827

Prep0strus:
I find Slughorn so gross. Maybe it's because I was expecting him to be
a likable Slytherin.  He picks out not just those who are talent, but
have contacts.  And he gives them special treatment, and they get to
go to special parties and have special food and kids who don't make
the grade are very pointedly rejected.  This is how he treats
children.  He's a selfish, pathetic, gross figure, and I think the
story treats him with disdain.

Irene:

You are right that the story treats him with disdain, but that's the story's problem, not Slughorn's problem.

> He picks out not just those who are talent, but have contacts.

Yes, but talent alone is enough to get picked, you don't need contacts on top of the talent. I don't see what's wrong with that.

> And he gives them special treatment

Yes, and Lupin gives special lessons to Harry (not to mention Dumbledore), and McGonagall gives special treatment to Hermione, and Hagrid has special food for the trio. :-) And the story is OK with all of these cases, but not with Slughorn.
Who is actually a very compentent teacher, I loved the first lesson. The way he got the children interested, and the way he gave them an excellent incentive. But of course midway into the first lesson Harry discovers the way to steal his (and Hermione's) thunder, so it all stops being important.

Irene