Dark Magic (+ a little Marietta)

[prep0strus]

No: HPFGUIDX 176824

> Magpie:
> Even while basically disagreeing with this view of Draco's actions 
> with Buckbeak, I unfortunately do agree this is how it's supposed to 
> come across and agree with your general point of his being the 
> author's whipping boy. He's set up for pleasure in his nastiness all 
> around--we get to cheer when he gets attacked by Buckbeak (who is 
> not a Gryffindor so Draco has no reason to pre-emptively fear him, 
> but certainly does act the part of the Gryffindor in this scene by 
> simply smacking Draco down because of an insulting remark just as 
> Hermione, Fred, George, Ron and Harry do). Then we get to boo and 
> hiss as he rejoices in the idea of Hagrid's pet being punished--he 
> never behaves in a way that lets us sympathize with his desire for 
> revenge against Buckbeak the way we are encouraged to sympathize 
> with the Gryffindor's desire for revenge against...anybody. And then 
> more stuff is added and not challenged, like the idea that 
> he's "deliberately" not following the rules--for what reason, I 
> don't know--and that he's bearing false witness even though there 
> doesn't seem to be any reason for him to do so. The only lying we 
> actually see him doing is playing up the paing of his injury after 
> it's cared for. Not to mention that Buckbeak is an "innocent animal" 
> even though Buckbeak was actually a sentient being who simply 
> slashed somebody because they insulted him. It's a clever bait and 
> switch, that, the way he can be both.

Prep0strus:
I am certainly disappointed in Draco's storyline - mostly, it's the
time devoted to him in HBP, and the big deal that is made about
Dumbledore not wanting him to be the one who kills him, that makes me
think he will earn a true reversal - that we'll see a redemption arc,
like Snape's, but within the time period of the story.  Which, to me,
would have been more interesting than Snape.  Something akin to what
we saw with Dudley, but more meaningful.  I don't think I would have
wound up liking Draco anymore than I like Snape, but I would have
enjoyed that arc.  I found everything about Draco in DH to be bizarre
and deeply unsatisfying.  But to get to what you were saying here...

buckbeak is not a sentient being, or simply smacking down draco for an
insulting remark.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud,"
said Hagrid.  "Easily offended, hippogriffs are.  Don't never insult
one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

"yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid
continued.  "it's polite, see?  Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an'
yeh wait.  if he bows back, hey're allowed ter touch him.  If he
doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt."

I know it's silly, because it's assuming they understand human words,
but there is often a much more muddled view of sentience vs
nonsentience in fantasy.  I had no doubts when I was reading this that
Hagrid was telling the kids the 'rules' of dealing with hippogriffs.
These are wild animals, but wild animals that live by a code.  They
are clearly dangerous-looking; the children are afraid of them until
Harry finds some success.  I don't think the fact that Buckbeak
responds to an insult makes him sentient or equivalently morally
culpable to humans.  They are fantasy animals, that live within the
confines of their rules.  As kids who live in a fantasy world that
contains many more dangers than our world.  Also, a certain amount of
respect is required with any animal, not just a fantasy one.

If I were working with a dangerous animal, and told go slow, speak
softly, and watch them carefully for signs of aggression, I would do
so.  If I were warned that loud noises or fast movements could agitate
the animal, I would avoid them.  I pay attention when I know I will be
working with something that could hurt me.  Draco's behavior is sheer
stupidity.  And then, it's not just carelessness.  JKR makes it clear
by not having him mistakenly break a rule - he deliberately aims an
insult at him.  Knowing human behavior, and animal behavior, I think
it's quite likely that a real life animal might respond the same way -
as the body posture and tone of Draco's voice would likely incur the
same result, even without the meaning of the words.  But as a magical
being, we don't have to wonder - we know the rules for dealing with
hippogriffs.  Treating them with respect is the same as the needing to
be virginal or telling the truth with a unicorn that is contained in
many stories.  It doesn't necessarily make them sentient.  It's just
part of their mythos.

Draco ignores danger, ignores the rules, and is rude for no purpose
whatsoever towards an innocent animal that has been treating him well.
 He then knows that he has behaved inappropriately, lies about the
extent of his injuries, and attempts to get an animal killed for his
own amusement.

And for all the Slytherin supporters out there... why don't you try
imagining what would happen if someone deliberately and maliciously
ignored instructions in Snape's class?  Would they not be expected to
suffer the consequences?  Even goodhearted attempts and failures could
lead to dire consequences, as Neville's toad would attest to (despite
some posters' personal beliefs that Snape wouldn't have actually done
anything to him).  But if Snape had told the kids to talk kindly to
the potion, and harry was in a foul mood and muttered insults into
his, and wound up disfigured, I think we'd see quite a defense of
harry the impetuous ignoring Professor Snape.

Draco ignored Prof. Hagrid.  He was stupid in the extreme, and nasty
for no reason.  He tried to get a creature which was acting according
to its nature killed.

The entire episode is one of the more sickening in the HP books,
especially seeing the sick pleasure the Slytherins get out of the idea
that buckbeak will be put down.

~Adam(Prep0strus)