Likeable Slughorn (was: Villain!Dumbledore )

[Katie]

No: HPFGUIDX 177832

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mcrudele78 at ...> wrote:
>
> > 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.
> 
> Mike:
> Irene and I may be in the minority, but I too liked Slughorn. I 
> suppose it was that first impression that sealed the deal for me. 
All that amazing magic he did preparing the house for DD's and 
Harry's arrival. Then ole Sluggy said about Umbridge "Idiotic Woman. 
Never liked her.", I was sold.
> 
> Needless to say, I disagreed with Harry's initial impression of 
> Sluggy. I don't think he was a pureblood fanatic at all. He just 
had old ideas about magic and magical abilities which were born out, 
imo,  by him choosing a 50+ year old text for potions class. He 
liked Lily Evans and even wanted her for his House. I think he's an 
example of the type of Slytherin we'd get if Tom Riddle didn't 
hijack the House.

<<<Huge Snip>>>

***Katie:

I, too, liked Slughorn...at least, as a character. Unlike some 
people in the books, who I think I would like in real life, I 
probably wouldn't like Slughorn too much in reality. I would 
probably find him annoying and more than a little silly. But he was 
a beautifully drawn and colorful character, who I think made an 
instant impact on the other characters and the story.

Mostly, I find Slughorn funny. He's comic relief of a smarter kind 
than Dobby or Grawp, and I found his whole image to be amusing. I 
like to think of him holding court, with his crytalized pineapple 
and his smoking jackets, busting out of his clothes and thinking he 
is ever-so-suave. He strikes me as someone who certainly doesn't 
mean to be funny, but almost always is! 

And I certainly never, ever got the impression that he was a pure-
blood kinda guy, or that he was a bad person in any way. Maybe self-
serving and self-involved, but not in a harmful way. And I felt he 
did have genuine affection for those students admitted to his inner 
circle. He certainly had loyalty to the school, to Dumbledore, and 
to the "good side". I always considered Slughorn "one of us".

I think Slughorn is actually the perfect example of a "good 
Slytherin", because, unlike Snape (who is more Gryff than Slyth, at 
least IMO), Slughorn actually embodies characteristics of Slytherin 
House, and is still a good guy. He's ambitious, self-serving, and 
cunning...but none of it is harmful (at least, not on purpose). So, 
he really is a Slytherin, and he is really is a good person. In 
fact, he's the only Slyth I can think of who actually acts like a 
Slyth and is still good. All JKR's other examples (Snape, 
Regulus...) embody more Gryff characteristics than Slyth. 

Anyway, just wanted to jump on the "We like Sluggy" bandwagon. Done 
now. : ) Katie