COS Chapter Thirteen: "The Very Secret Diary"

[for-diddled.livejournal.com]

* Hermione’s really ashamed to be seen with a furry face. Pity the memory of this won’t stop her from cursing the words “SNEAK” across Marietta Edgecombe’s face in OOTP.

* Way to go, Dumbledore, giving the job of janitor to the person in the school least qualified for it. No wonder Filch has snapped.

* And Filch was so angry, he walked into Dumbledore’s office and beat him to death with a wet mop. The end.

* Ron’s once again demonstrating what it was like back when the WW was explained by somebody who might reasonably be expected to know about it, before he was lobotomised and his memories all given to Hermione.

* Ron’s had to spend an hour wiping slime off of Tom Riddle’s trophy. Even in (sort of) death, the Dark Lord still has the power to make people suffer. :)

* I think it says something about the insularity of the WW that it’s unthinkable for anyone to buy anything from a Muggle shop without being Muggle-born themselves.

* “Maybe he murdered Myrtle, that would’ve done everyone a favour…” *Chalks one up for Seer!Ron.*

* Harry keeps Riddle’s diary, even though he doesn’t know why. Even in the early books, the malign influence of authorial fiat is plain to see.

* Also, for all that Harry will bitch about Draco’s “infatuation with the Dark Arts” in HBP, it’s interesting to note that he seems to feel an instinctive bond with the evil Lord Voldemort, and doesn’t turn against him till he knows who he really is.

* Note, however, that Harry’s being initially taken in by Tom, before turning against him when he realises who he really is, is entirely different to Draco’s initially supporting Lord V, before turning against him when he realises what sort of man he really is.

* Ron’s dismissive of all that intellectualism stuff, until he needs Hermione to help him with his homework, in which case he’s all for it. Hypocrite.

* Ron’s disgusted to be surrounded by all that girly pink. See under “Gryffindors, insecure sexuality thereof”.

* I love those little Cupid!Dwarves, BTW.

* Yeah, because obviously The Boy Who Lived and the star player on the Gryffindor Quidditch team would only get one Valentine. *rolls eyes*

* Malfoy probably feels that Christmas has come early in this scene. :)

* Still, you’d’ve thought that a member of a House famed for its cunning would have known better than to needlessly antagonise authority figures. IITS, I guess.

* “Malfoy, who obviously hadn’t noticed the date on the front cover, and thought he had Harry’s own diary.” Christ, JKR, show, don’t tell, remember?

* I’m going to disagree with Harry and suggest that Ron does need to spend the whole of Charms belching slugs. Aside from being fun to watch, being on the receiving end of a few curses might stop all this wand-happy “Hex first, ask questions later” Gryffindorishness.

* Harry hasn’t yet hit puberty, so we’re spared the usual gushing descriptions of how handsome Tom is.

* Being a helpful old soul, Dippet pauses to have a long expositional conversation with Tom for the benefit of anybody who might be magically watching from fifty years in the future.

* DD’s “penetrating stare” is probably meant to show us how awesomely perceptive he is in guessing that it was really Tom all along. Unfortunately, it makes him look like an arrogant fool whose neurosis about sharing information leads him to recklessly endanger the lives of students under his care.

* So Hagrid’s just going to let that giant spider wander the corridors, then? It may not have killed anybody before, but it’s a miracle it didn’t kill anyone that night.

Comments

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

Hermione’s really ashamed to be seen with a furry face. Pity the memory of this won’t stop her from cursing the words “SNEAK” across Marietta Edgecombe’s face in OOTP.

Yes. See comment regarding Gryffs and empathy below.

Way to go, Dumbledore, giving the job of janitor to the person in the school least qualified for it. No wonder Filch has snapped.

I certainly would in his situation. And I rather think he and Snape commiserate often regarding the Headmaster.

And Filch was so angry, he walked into Dumbledore’s office and beat him to death with a wet mop. The end.

ROFL.

Ron’s once again demonstrating what it was like back when the WW was explained by somebody who might reasonably be expected to know about it, before he was lobotomised and his memories all given to Hermione.

Word. I miss competent!Ron.

Note, however, that Harry’s being initially taken in by Tom, before turning against him when he realises who he really is, is entirely different to Draco’s initially supporting Lord V, before turning against him when he realises what sort of man he really is.

Obviously. Harry is a Gryffindor, Draco is a Slytherin. Good, Evil. How dare you make such a comparison - clearly the situations are in no way alike. /sarcasm

I’m going to disagree with Harry and suggest that Ron does need to spend the whole of Charms belching slugs. Aside from being fun to watch, being on the receiving end of a few curses might stop all this wand-happy “Hex first, ask questions later” Gryffindorishness.

An admirable sentiment. However, this assumes that such Gryffindors are capable of or in the least interested in feeling empathy for someone not a friend, family member, or fellow Gryffindor.

Maybe I'm tad cynical. Blame it on whoever broke the moral compass of these books.

DD’s “penetrating stare” is probably meant to show us how awesomely perceptive he is in guessing that it was really Tom all along. Unfortunately, it makes him look like an arrogant fool whose neurosis about sharing information leads him to recklessly endanger the lives of students under his care.

Word. Word word word. Things like this are why DH's manipulative b*st*rd Dumbledore doesn't seem like a personality transplant - unlike nearly all the other characters, he's actually *consistent* throughout the series. In the earlier books we all just bought into the kindly mentor persona he put on for Harry and co.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

this assumes that such Gryffindors are capable of or in the least interested in feeling empathy for someone not a friend, family member, or fellow Gryffindor

I'd argue Gryffindors don't even feel empathy for family/friends in select situations. Neither Molly nor Arthur think it important to replace Ron's wand. Nothing too crucial to his studies, just the one thing he most needs in order to learn anything useful at school.

And Harry, despite being filthy rich, doesn't even offer to replace it. Look, I know Ron's proud and all, but Harry is sitting on a fortune and could at least ask his friend if he can help. I'm the most selfish person ever and I would still reach out if a friend was in need...

In the earlier books we all just bought into the kindly mentor persona

It annoys me so many people STILL buy into that, including JKR! Yes, Albus is worthy of praise and adulation (let's celebrate the man who left a boy to be abused and raised him to commit suicide, let's vilify the man who gave up years of his life and let himself be struck down to protect this boy and his world), yes, Harry is so understanding that he named his kid after him, let's all make excuses and pat him on the back and say he did his best. *spits in disgust*

[aikaterini.livejournal.com]

/Neither Molly nor Arthur think it important to replace Ron's wand. Nothing too crucial to his studies, just the one thing he most needs in order to learn anything useful at school./

Hogwarts apparently doesn't think that it's important to replace Ron's wand either. When Albus meets Tom at the orphanage, he tells him that the school will provide financial aid for his supplies, since he is an orphan. But that same fund doesn't apply to Ron? Why? Is he not poor enough? Or is it because he's not an orphan?

[sunnyskywalker]

Harry keeping the diary could have been retconned later as some sort of Horcrux attraction, but he doesn't seem to have any mysterious attraction to the locket or anything else, so it doesn't work. Maybe the diary has a magical enhancement to make people want to keep it? I don't know why I'm trying to find an explanation...

[lynn-waterfall.livejournal.com]

Maybe the diary has a magical enhancement to make people want to keep it? I don't know why I'm trying to find an explanation...

Because it's what we do? ;)

(thinks)

...Ack, I suppose JKR might just say it's because the Diary had already absorbed some of Ginny's soul, so it's really *Ginny* that Harry's drawn to, or something. :^P

Maybe I'll think of something sensible later.

Diary Attraction

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

It's a diary, everyone under 16 is super attracted to someone elses diary. The thought of reading someone elses diary is 'old magic' - there is no incantation for it, it just exists without any real explanation.

It is just like Lily's 'old magic' love protection.

Reading someone elses diary is unavoidable when it's placed in a kids hands - well unless the kid has really good moral fiber and the ability to withstand the powerful temptation of humiliating someone else.

[sunnyskywalker]

It smells like something flowery he remembered from the Burrow :P

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

That's HILARIOUS. I love it! It's so crazy, it just could be true!

Random theory: suppose it was Harry's horcrux Ginny was subconsciously attracted to? Like, Tom Riddle imprinted on her so strongly that she sought out his shadow in Harry...and after DH, it just wasn't the same... :P

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

If he'd had any affinity for Horcruxes, that would've made something in the series worthwhile! Oh, here's the reason Dumbles sent off an untrained kid and his BFFs to defeat the evilest wizard evar! Because Harry has a crucial role that nobody else can fulfil! Got it!

But no. Harry not only cannot detect Horcruxes, but he also doesn't know how to destroy them. *headdeskwallfloor* Explain to me again why Dumbles didn't send off competent adult wizards years ago to find and destroy the Horcruxes?

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Harry keeps Riddle’s diary, even though he doesn’t know why. Even in the early books, the malign influence of authorial fiat is plain to see.

Ouch. And yet everyone let that sort of thing slide in the early books. Because they were written in a childlike style? Because they weren't all that common?

Little did we know how Rowling's use of authorial fiat would become more and more blatant, more and more insultingly clumsy, culminating in the disaster of DH.

Ron’s dismissive of all that intellectualism stuff, until he needs Hermione to help him with his homework, in which case he’s all for it. Hypocrite.

Yeah. Poor Hermione! Having a 'weary' expression on her face, as I recall, when pushed back into service as Ron's homework machine in book 6.

It may not have killed anybody before, but it’s a miracle it didn’t kill anyone that night.

*cough*authorialfiat*cough*

[for-diddled.livejournal.com]

"And yet everyone let that sort of thing slide in the early books. Because they were written in a childlike style? Because they weren't all that common?"

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but in my case it was because the earlier books were fun in a way that the later ones simply weren't, and I can forgive a lot in a work when I'm having fun. But the warped morality of the later books just sucked all the fun out of it, so I was inclined to just be swept along with what was happening and more inclined to look for other flaws in the books.

[aikaterini.livejournal.com]

/* Ron’s once again demonstrating what it was like back when the WW was explained by somebody who might reasonably be expected to know about it, before he was lobotomised and his memories all given to Hermione./

Yes, before Steve Kloves got ahold of him and turned him into the stupid, timid sidekick who took a backseat to everyone, and JKR followed suit. *grumbles*

/* Ron’s had to spend an hour wiping slime off of Tom Riddle’s trophy. Even in (sort of) death, the Dark Lord still has the power to make people suffer. :)/

Now I'm imagining an AU showdown between Ron and Voldemort in which Ron whacks him with his trophy and yells, "And that's for making me waste an hour of my life cleaning this, you miserable git!"

/* I think it says something about the insularity of the WW that it’s unthinkable for anyone to buy anything from a Muggle shop without being Muggle-born themselves./

Because wizards never use Muggle inventions like trains, quills, toilets, etc. What about all of those wizards who live in Muggle neighborhoods? I'd think that faced with a choice between going to the Muggle-owned grocery store down the block or having to travel all the way to Diagon Alley (or wherever a wizarding supermarket would be), a wizard or witch would shop at the Muggle place.

/* Also, for all that Harry will bitch about Draco’s “infatuation with the Dark Arts” in HBP, it’s interesting to note that he seems to feel an instinctive bond with the evil Lord Voldemort, and doesn’t turn against him till he knows who he really is./

Don't forget Harry's infatuation with the HBP's spells, even though Hermione warned him that they might be Dark Magic.

/* DD’s “penetrating stare” is probably meant to show us how awesomely perceptive he is in guessing that it was really Tom all along./

And HBP ruined it completely. Dumbledore didn't need to have the "penetrating stare" of Legilimency to know that something was wrong. He knew that Tom was trouble the moment he met him. He was practically *told* that Tom was bad news. At the orphanage, Dumbledore learned all the evidence that he needed to know to prove that Tom was the Heir of Slytherin.

Let's see, the person who's doing this is supposed to be the Heir of Slytherin, right? Slytherin's symbol was a snake. And the victim didn't have any marks on her body. And a basilisk, which is a gigantic snake, can kill people without wounding them. And Dumbledore knows of one boy who is not only disturbed, but who told him on the very first day of their acquaintance that he was a Parselmouth.

And yet Dumbledore is supposed to be "awesomely perceptive" because he *suspected* that Tom is the Heir? Only people as perceptive as a brick wall wouldn't be able to put two and two together with the kind of information that Dumbledore had!

Now I'm imagining an AU scenario where Harry and Voldemort have their confrontation and Voldemort yells at Harry for blindly trusting in Dumbledore and snarls that Dumbledore knew everything about him and had done nothing about it.

[lynn-waterfall.livejournal.com]

Let's see, the person who's doing this is supposed to be the Heir of Slytherin, right? Slytherin's symbol was a snake. And the victim didn't have any marks on her body. And a basilisk, which is a gigantic snake, can kill people without wounding them. And Dumbledore knows of one boy who is not only disturbed, but who told him on the very first day of their acquaintance that he was a Parselmouth.

Well, Avada Kedavra kills without leaving a mark, too. Even if someone was claiming to have released Slytherin's monster, the effects could be achieved without a basilisk. Even the petrifications, since apparently petrification is a known thing. Dumbledore's reaction to Mrs. Norris' petrification is "She has been Petrified.... But how, I cannot say." Even if basilisks were a known cause of petrification, there are apparently others. A student or group of students could have been using those other means to attack students.

Heck, if some of Tom's classmates knew/had found out that Tom was a Parselmouth, they could theoretically have been setting him up to take the fall.


(Of course, none of that bears on your main point, that Dumbledore didn't need to be particularly perceptive here. As you say, after HBP we know that Dumbledore had reason to at least suspect Tom in any violence going on at Hogwarts.)

[sharaz-jek.livejournal.com]

I'd think that faced with a choice between going to the Muggle-owned grocery store down the block or having to travel all the way to Diagon Alley (or wherever a wizarding supermarket would be), a wizard or witch would shop at the Muggle place.

You're forgetting that wizards and witches can teleport there with Floo powder.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

before Steve Kloves got ahold of him and turned him into the stupid, timid sidekick who took a backseat to everyone, and JKR followed suit

Which is why I find it ridiculous when people defend her work by saying 'but they're her characters, whatever way they're written, it's automatically in character'. No. JKR was way too easily guided by the opinions and reinterpretation of others. It's a pity the movies weren't made after she made the series, because a lot of her later work work is so heavily influenced by them or what she writes because it'll look awesome on the big screen but is unnecessary or ridic in terms of a plotline. (see: Seven Potters, Harry stripping down a couple times, etc.)

Now I'm imagining an AU showdown between Ron and Voldemort in which Ron whacks him with his trophy and yells, "And that's for making me waste an hour of my life cleaning this, you miserable git!"

*dies* That's hilarious! And hey, you made Ron cool! *squish* Win!

Don't forget Harry's infatuation with the HBP's spells, even though Hermione warned him that they might be Dark Magic

Echoing his fascination with spells DEs taught him...true, Snape's spells were useful- expelliarmus!- but listen to the way Harry rhapsodizes over things that Barty and Bellatrix taught him...

yet Dumbledore is supposed to be "awesomely perceptive" because he *suspected* that Tom is the Heir? Only people as perceptive as a brick wall wouldn't be able to put two and two together with the kind of information that Dumbledore had

ARGH, YES. Too bad he's 'lethally passive'. The man makes with-holding information an exercise in population control! It's like he hoards information just to whittle down the student body. *shakes head* Or at least to make the medical staff earn their keep. *glares*

Voldemort yells at Harry for blindly trusting in Dumbledore and snarls that Dumbledore knew everything about him and had done nothing about it.

We've talked about how Dumbles created the Chosen One (from letting Snape leave with the prophecy to taking the Cloak just when the Potters needed it most to dumping Harry in an abusive home while spreading tales of the Boy Who Lived, etc.) but he pretty much created Voldy, as well. Not on purpose, I can't argue that he deliberately molded him into the Dark Lord, but he brought him to the magical world, he saw all the warning signs and paid little heed to them and did nothing to keep tabs on the boy and steer him on the right path or throw obstacles on his way to claiming power and influence and so forth.

[montavilla.livejournal.com]

* Hermione’s really ashamed to be seen with a furry face. Pity the memory of this won’t stop her from cursing the words “SNEAK” across Marietta Edgecombe’s face in OOTP.

It's Hermione, subconsciously punishing herself before she disfigures another person. See? She was totally owed the freebie she got later on. Karma-wise.

* Ron’s once again demonstrating what it was like back when the WW was explained by somebody who might reasonably be expected to know about it, before he was lobotomised and his memories all given to Hermione.

It so strange that Ron lost all his smarts. Maybe it was the brains in the MoM raid? Otherwise, it seems like Movie-bleed. This was the film, after all, when Ron's lines started sneaking off to Hermione.

* Ron’s had to spend an hour wiping slime off of Tom Riddle’s trophy. Even in (sort of) death, the Dark Lord still has the power to make people suffer. :)

Oh, this seemed like such a great clue to a Horcrux. So much more in keeping with Tom's supposed psychology.

* I think it says something about the insularity of the WW that it’s unthinkable for anyone to buy anything from a Muggle shop without being Muggle-born themselves.

I think it says more about the ridiculously difficult exchange rate.
* Yeah, because obviously The Boy Who Lived and the star player on the Gryffindor Quidditch team would only get one Valentine. *rolls eyes*

Colin Creevey didn't give Harry a Valentine? What is wrong with that kid?

* DD’s “penetrating stare” is probably meant to show us how awesomely perceptive he is in guessing that it was really Tom all along. Unfortunately, it makes him look like an arrogant fool whose neurosis about sharing information leads him to recklessly endanger the lives of students under his care.

Bwahaha! I have to agree that Dumbedore is the most consistent character in the series (aside from Filch, perhaps). It's rather clever of JKR to fool us so long about him.


* So Hagrid’s just going to let that giant spider wander the corridors, then? It may not have killed anybody before, but it’s a miracle it didn’t kill anyone that night.

I do get the feeling that Aragog isn't so big fifty years ago. Just maybe the size of a basketball? It's like Neville and his toad. Except Neville's toad doesn't eat people.

Diary Horcrux

[urbanman1984.livejournal.com]

>>> * Ron’s had to spend an hour wiping slime off of Tom Riddle’s trophy. Even in (sort of) death, the Dark Lord still has the power to make people suffer. :)

Oh, this seemed like such a great clue to a Horcrux. So much more in keeping with Tom's supposed psychology. <<<

The use of the diary as a Horcrux was authorial fiat as well. JKR was thinking of how her sister used a little black diary and how it worried JKR that she was making herself vulnerable to those who read it or to the diary itself. The Voldemort we see in HBP and the trainwreck of a novel that is DH would not have had any such idea for a Horcrux. He only used magical artefacts and pieces of treasure when left to his own devices without authorial fiat.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

It so strange that Ron lost all his smarts...it seems like Movie-bleed. This was the film, after all, when Ron's lines started sneaking off to Hermione

Wasn't it PoA? You mean the line-stealing began this early? *shakes head* Either way, boy never had a chance. JKR at least was willing to have Hermione screw up and get egg on her face, and Ron began as this kid who was knowledgeable about his society...then the movies started and what do you know, Hermione becomes ~flawless and Ron gets a lobotomy. In GoF, when he's clueless and has to ask Hermione to explain anti-Muggle enchantments and how a castle can be concealed... *grinds teeth* And of course he knows nothing about other magical schools! Hermione, who reads books, will know all the minutiae (kind of a random thing to read about, but hey), while the boy who grew up in the wizarding world would know nothing of other magical communities! *headdesk*

I have to agree that Dumbedore is the most consistent character in the series. It's rather clever of JKR to fool us so long about him

I'll give her that. Credit where it's due and all. I'm surprised by how consistent he was in hindsight- consistently bastardish, that is. The unfortunate part is that JKR doesn't seem to have intended us to get that impression about him. She still sees him as a triumph of morality (whose one great mistake was to love someone unworthy) and a suitable object for hero-worship and glorification. I don't know how his own creator could not see what a loathesome creep she wrote.

Except Neville's toad doesn't eat people

YOU DON'T KNOW. Maybe his toad was submerged in one too many potions and there was some sort of magical contamination that slowly mutated him over time and he'll eventually turn into a horrific monster that'll target dark-haired, dark-eyed boys. THE HORROR.

[sharaz-jek.livejournal.com]

Colin Creevey didn't give Harry a Valentine? What is wrong with that kid?

Insecure Gryffindor sexuality, of course.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Hermione’s really ashamed to be seen with a furry face. Pity the memory of this won’t stop her from cursing the words “SNEAK” across Marietta Edgecombe’s face in OOTP.

You have it backwards: This experience showed Hermione that mutilating someone's face was effective punishment.

Yeah, because obviously The Boy Who Lived and the star player on the Gryffindor Quidditch team would only get one Valentine. *rolls eyes*

OTOH everyone was trying to sneak a look at the hospitalized Hermione. She is more popular than Harry in this book!

So did Albus Legilimize Tom? Did he *see* that Tom was the attacker? Or did he notice Tom blocking his attempt to find out? And after that did nothing to confirm his suspicions? And kept them to himself all these years?

Albus Dumbledore

[urbanman1984.livejournal.com]

Yes, throughout the series he does purposefully keep all information to himself even when it is not only unnecessary, but also makes things harder for those who are working against Voldemort.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

This experience showed Hermione that mutilating someone's face was effective punishment

*sighs* I yearn for the days when I could believe that was not the case. Instead, I find it chillingly plausible that Hermione recalled how utterly humiliating this experience was and decided it was the perfect revenge (yes, revenge, damn it, fandom, I love the girl and I know you do, too, but let's not ignore that this is by no means a 'safety precaution'- just simple cold vindictive vengeance).

everyone was trying to sneak a look at the hospitalized Hermione. She is more popular than Harry in this book

LMAO! I guess 'coz when Harry's in the hospital wing, he's been injured out in plain sight- quidditch, mainly- so there's no mystery there, whereas Hermione was injured at a time of great tension and fear with a basilisk on the loose, so it stands to reason they'd be wanting to check her out and see if it got her, too.

PS. I really need an icon for 'cold, calculating Hermione'- all my icons of her are so positive and fangirly but when I'm here, I'm nearly always criticizing her, lol. But I don't think there's a market for an icon that's all 'I like this character but I think she can be really cruel and petty at times'.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

Way to go, Dumbledore, giving the job of janitor to the person in the school least qualified for it

Stuff like this makes me shake my head at how crap JKR can be at the details making up her world. It's like...squib= poorly educated and talentess= menial job = janitor. But in a world where you can clean up a mess with a simple flick of the wand, it just comes off as a bastard move to make a feeble old man, who's described as shuffling slowly and wheezing, take care of an entire castle when not only could any of the teachers or even some of the students take care of it, but there are magical elves that can also clean it up with the snap of a finger!

before he was lobotomised and his memories all given to Hermione

Do you think Hermione maybe learned some sort of version of Legilimency but instead of seeing Ron's thoughts, she accidentally stole his memories? So now she knows everything he once did, but he's left clueless? Considering the mind-wipe in DH for absolutely no reason, well...

Ron’s had to spend an hour wiping slime off of Tom Riddle’s trophy. Even in (sort of) death, the Dark Lord still has the power to make people suffer. :)

a) LOL. *g*
b) Why could that not've been a Horcrux? It'd fit in with the psychology of it all- it's a success of his, which involves covering up a crime he committed and pinning the blame on someone else- plus it'd make Ron look smart if he'd uncovered it! But nooo...

“Maybe he murdered Myrtle, that would’ve done everyone a favour…”

Oh, yeah, snap. What a sensitive, thoughtful lad. *shakes head* Look, I get that kids aren't fully socialized and mature and all that, but what a disgusting thing to say. Thank god someone KILLED A GIRL. And hey, did he ever stop to think that maybe if she hadn't been killed, she wouldn't be so miserable and hanging around making everyone else miserable? FFS, what a little prick. *kicks him*

that Harry’s being initially taken in by Tom, before turning against him when he realises who he really is, is entirely different to Draco’s initially supporting Lord V, before turning against him when he realises what sort of man he really is

But Draco's a racist! That makes it totally different! HDU!

I find Draco more sympathetic, tbh. People are all 'he's a racist scumbag who deserves to die', personally, I find that having the maturity to realize that the values instilled in him from birth and the lessons he learned while growing up were flawed and to try to throw off the shackles of his heritage is more praiseworthy. Harry had it easy- he was given an enemy to hate from the start, it was all black and white, no decision needed. Draco had to decide which side he was on and take a stance that diverged from his family's and which put him in more danger than simply shutting up and going along with it.

Same as Snape, but of course, we all know how fandom views him. I think it takes a stronger man to realize he's wrong and work to rectify his mistakes, but fandom would prefer someone who kept hexing and never asked questions. *eyeroll*

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

Ron’s dismissive of all that intellectualism stuff, until he needs Hermione to help him with his homework, in which case he’s all for it. Hypocrite

This really annoys me. But I feel I should point out that Hermione's not a hapless victim, we see her come to use her brains as a bribe or reward. She witholds her knowledge to get them to fall in line or pay attention, and she volunteers it when she feels proud of them. For instance, when Ron ripped up Percy's letter or at least ranted about him in OotP, Hermione grabbed his parchment and completed his work for him. *sighs and shakes head*

I love Percy. /randomness.

you’d’ve thought that a member of a House famed for its cunning would have known better than to needlessly antagonise authority figures

We rarely see any hint of Slytherin cunning from the students in that house. Like, you think they'd know how to cheat better in Quidditch as opposed to openly shoving and kicking and assaulting members of the opposite team! Especially when it results in penalties and disadvantages to their side! What?! *headdesk*

Harry hasn’t yet hit puberty, so we’re spared the usual gushing descriptions of how handsome Tom is

LMAO!

Hagrid’s just going to let that giant spider wander the corridors, then? It may not have killed anybody before, but it’s a miracle it didn’t kill anyone that night

This was the ONE TIME that the kids were willing to hold Hagrid accountable and I was so happy that for once, being their friend didn't mean he HAD to be innocent (see: Harry's insistence that Stan cannot be a DE), but of course, he ends up having nothing to do with it. His giant man-eating spider not eating anyone doesn't exactly make him innocent, guys! He still endangered everyone in the castle by keeping Aragog! And then he SENT THE KIDS TO HIM, and they almost wound up as spider chow, but NOOO, we can't blame Hagrid for ANYTHING. *kicks him*

[aikaterini.livejournal.com]

/We rarely see any hint of Slytherin cunning from the students in that house. Like, you think they'd know how to cheat better in Quidditch as opposed to openly shoving and kicking and assaulting members of the opposite team! Especially when it results in penalties and disadvantages to their side! What?! *headdesk*/

Face it, Slytherin's just supposed to be the House of bullies. Every mean kid that you can think of in high school would belong in Slytherin by virtue of being mean, no intelligence required. The Sorting Hat can't come right out and say, "Oh, and if you're a nasty, prejudiced, evil, spoiled brat, Slytherin's the House for you," so it softens the blow by saying that Slytherins are cunning. Which sounds cool in a way, because it implies intelligence, but note that it also has a much more negative connotation than "intellect," which is supposed to be the hallmark of Ravenclaw House. When Draco was quickly Sorted into Slytherin, we weren't supposed to nod our heads and think, "Of course he belongs there, because he's so cunning," we were supposed to nod our heads and think, "Of course he belongs there, because he's a rude, nasty brat." If the Dursleys were wizards, they would undoubtedly be in Slytherin, unless they were some rare exception like Peter.

/He still endangered everyone in the castle by keeping Aragog! And then he SENT THE KIDS TO HIM, and they almost wound up as spider chow, but NOOO, we can't blame Hagrid for ANYTHING./

I think the reason why some people don't blame Hagrid for that is similar to the reason why some people don't blame Dumbledore for not telling anybody about Tom when he had the chance. First, one can argue that Hagrid and Albus had good intentions. Hagrid didn't intend for anybody to be hurt by Aragog and he didn't intend for Harry and Ron to be in danger. Albus didn't intend for people to be hurt by his secrecy. Second, both of them, one can argue, were simply blinded by their persistent belief in believing the good in people (or wild animals, in Hagrid's case). Hagrid was simply misguided by his love of dangerous creatures, while Dumbledore was misguided in believing that Tom could turn a new leaf.

Except that it's one thing to be misguided and naive. It's another thing when your misguided naivete results in people getting hurt. And given what we've seen of Dumbledore in DH and what he discovered in his conversation with Tom in the orphanage, I'm finding it difficult to believe that Albus kept quiet all that time, even after a student was killed, just because he wanted to give Tom a second chance.