Likeable Slughorn (was: Villain!Dumbledore )

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 177889

> >>zgirnius:
> <snip>
> I am totally comfortable with Hermione trotting off to the club, it 
> is Ron I have the problem with. If Hermione goes on to be a much 
> greater "success" in life than Ron, and he can't deal with that,    
> they are better off breaking up right then and there over the Slug 
> Club. He should find someone small and weak enough for his fragile 
> ego to handle, and Hermione should live as though the sky is the   
> limit. \climbs off feminist soapbox 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
It's funny (and it goes towards how differently we can each read 
things, I think) but I see Hermione being as feminist as a starlet 
sleeping with a producer to get a part here. (Which I suppose could 
be seen as a feminist move depending on how you want to spin it.)  
But that's because I think Hermione got into the club more on 
her "connections" than her talents.  Slughorn was into Harry, he 
wanted Harry in his club, and Harry had praised Hermione.  So 
Hermione was in.

But I think that's because I really do see Slughorn and his club as 
being about "collecting" rather than being about helping the talented 
get ahead.  Slughorn goes for what interests him: pretty boys of good 
breeding, and apparently spunky girls.  (Though I think the girls are 
more of a way to lure in the pretty boys.) 

I think I got this idea from the way Slughorn salivated over Harry 
when they first met and how Dumbledore contrived to have them be 
alone together.  The consequent chasing of Harry just added to that 
impression for me.  And it totally fits with Slytherin being the more 
sexually aware house as well.

(As an aside: Slughorn is totally a bigot, IMO.  He's just the kind 
that either exclaims "He speaks so well!" about an educated black 
man, or shakes his head in amusement at the mathmatically proficient 
woman.  The kind who'd go to a Jewish doctor or accountant but not 
invite them to the club-house.  He's a pragmatic bigot. Which is 
apparently the best Slytherin can hope for.)

Betsy Hp