CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 10, THE HALLOWEEN

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 188382


Pippin:
If you're prepared to argue that a behavior is typical when you admit you can't
document it even once, I don't know how to answer you.


Alla:

No, this is not what I am saying at all. What I was saying initially (or at least trying to say) is that Slytherins would never do, or at least would not typically do what Harry and Ron would do for Hermione and I still stand by this opinion. But your response was something along the lines that Slytherins would go and form a plan first, or as you said change the odds or something and then they will come and do exactly the same what Harry and Ron did.

If I misunderstood you I am sorry, but if I am not please read on. So, here is what I was trying to say. I do NOT see anywhere in the books Slytherins doing exactly what you were suggesting they would do, namely form a plan to save a person first instead of rushing into it heads on and then come back and save that person. Or I guess should I say, I do see Snape and only Snape doing that.

And then my point was that based on what I KNOW and SEE Slytherins doing , that extrapolation or speculation is the most I am willing to grant them, I thought I was being generous to them,  because I have not seen them doing even that.

Pippin:
But as for saving people they don't like, Narcissa saved Harry from Voldemort.

Alla:

Yes she did, in order to save her son. I am afraid it does not even come close to me to what Harry and Ron did. Any benefits for themselves that they were looking for? Yes, I know, Hermione saved them from teacher's wrath, but I do not see them going into action expecting that. IMO of course. To me their action is selfless, while Narcissa's is selfish, brave but selfish

Pippin:
Draco lowered his wand against Dumbledore and refused to identify the Trio
until it no longer mattered.

Alla:

LOL. Draco **saved** Dumbledore? And he refused to identify the Trio is your interpretation, mine is that he did not refuse anything, unfortunately, he was not saying yes or no. Refusal to me will be to say NO, that is not them. Where does he say – no, it is not them in canon?

Pippin:
Slughorn came back to the aid of all the
Hogwartians, not just the ones he liked. He fought side by side with
McGonagall, who suspected him of planning treachery, and Shacklebolt, whom he
probably doesn't know. 

Alla:

Yes, he did came back, I can understand how he helped defending Hogwarts, just as I said upthread, I just do not see it as the same situation. I do not see him rushing to save anybody against all odds. But yes, he mastered courage worthy of Gryffindors lol IMO.


Pippin:
Regulus's plan, had it been successful, would have saved
everyone, Muggles and Muggleborns included.

Alla:

I do not get this.


Pippin:
<SNIP>
In any case, I was talking about *negative* stereotypes which have grown up
around the Houses and are never mentioned by the Sorting Hat. Hufflepuffs are
duffers, Gryffindors are brainless, etc. I think Slytherins save their own skins
first is one of them. It is, IMO, shown to be as empty and harmful as any of the
others, even if some Slytherins, like Phineas, actually believe it. Draco
believed it. He didn't expect to have any trouble carrying out his mission on
the Tower. But, you know, even in the Potterverse, believing something doesn't
make it true.

Alla:

And to me saying that people can be sorted into houses because the only one side of their personality will be predominant for them all their lives IS negative stereotyping through and through. As I said, if I think about it symbolically, I like that, if I try to think about it in realistic terms, no not really. I think she shows that some Slytherins could be courageous, no doubt about that, but considering how few of them I saw, well, no I cannot say that it overturns the image for me.

And um, where are intelligent Hufflepufs? There was Cedric who I guess must have been intelligent if chosen as Champion. And???