JKR's lesson on prejudice (was:Slytherins come back)

[Elizabeth Snape]

No: HPFGUIDX 180462


> 
> > Betsy Hp:
> > That Slytherins are treated as the scapegoats and sin-eaters
> > of the WW had been apparent to me the moment Dumbledore pulled
> > that tacky powerplay at the end of PS/SS. That Draco was stronger
> > than Harry ever gave him credit for was apparent to me the second
> > time Draco went up against Harry. Or the moment Draco looked up
> > at a teacher who'd just physically abused and humiliated him in
> > front of the entire student body and still managed to spit out
> > defiance through his pain.
> 
> revaunchanistx:
> At what point are the Slytherins ever a scapegoat or sin-eater,
> at the end of PS/SS last minute points had to be rewarded, it
> would have been more wrong to ignore what had happened and
> not reward points to Gryffindor. It would have shown extreme
> favoritism of Slytherin just to let them win. Draco always
> tried to get Harry when his back was turned, Harry treated
> Draco with the respect he deserved. Harry was the only one
> who recognized Draco as a serious threat in HBP. Draco did
> not spit out defiance to a teacher who humiliated him. He
> told a bitter Death Eater that his father would hear of it,
> not very brave of him. Also let's not forget that Professor
> McGonnagall stopped him, a lowly Gryffindor, or the fact that
> fake Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.) was probably not in Slytherin
> (at least canon doesn't say he was) and Barty Crouch Jr. was
> very bad; he could be called a "sin-eater"
> 

Snape's Witch:
Oh, of course HRH and Neville deserved to be awarded those points!  
Who on earth has ever argued against it?  No one that I can recall.

What I found disturbing about that scene in PS/SS was the Slytherin 
flags on display indicating they had definitely won the house cup and 
*then* DD awards the points, claps his hands, "We need a change of 
decoration" and the pennants change to Gryffindor.  Sounds like 
deliberate humilation to me.