Truth or consequences

[davewitley]

Neri:

> No, no, no. That's lying to the bad guys in order to save the good
> guys. That's OK. Really. I'm sure there's a clause that says so in
> "Things That Are Allowed And Not Allowed In Children Books".

I suspect this is the crux.  One can treat the series as words coming 
in virtual isolation (accompanied or not by JKR's interview and 
website statements), or in the context of a set of generic conventions.

I tend to the latter approach, the problem then being, *which* 
conventions - school story, detective, spy, fairy-tale, fantasy among 
others - apply, and if they suggest conflicting readings how to 
resolve the conflict.

David, in a hurry