[HPforGrownups] Re: Wizarding Top Ten

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 187936

On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 12:54 PM, justcarol67 <justcarol67 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Bad guys
>
> 1. Nagini. I hate her more than I hate Voldemort. She ate his victims, she sustained him through her venomous "milk" when he was Baby!mort (and her venom was an ingredient in the potion that created that repulsive form), she killed Snape, and she viciously attacked both Harry and Mr. Weasley. The scene where she comes out of Bathilda's body may be the most horrific moment in the series, simultaneously revolting and terrifying.

I was a little surprised by this, mainly because I never thought of
Nagini in any terms but "animal" -- kind of like Hagrid when he points
out that if Crookshanks has indeed eaten Scabbers it's because he's
"only doing what cats do."  That is, I don't consider her a self-aware
creature with moral choices.  Yes, she attacks and eats people on
Voldemort's orders, but I don't fault her for that any more than I'd
fault an attack dog for obeying its master's directions to attack
people.  (The *master*, OTOH, I might have much more severe language
for.)

OTOH I'm aware that many people have an instinctive revulsion for
snakes which I don't happen to share, and that may be a factor here
too.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean56 at gmail.com>