Leave a comment

hm276 November 24 2010, 11:47:28 UTC
Frankly, I am not sure whether it was ever stated in the book that the jinx was supposed to last forever. I have always assumed that the curse will go away after awhile. At the least, someone should have approached Hermione to let her know what the consequences of her actions were and to let her make some amends to Marietta.

While I don`t blame Marietta for what she did, I don`t think badly of Hermione either; they both did what they thought was best with their given circumstances.
I don`t think she put the jinx there solely for vengeance sake as it seemed to me to be a pragmatic way to know if and when your organisation is betrayed. The situation in OoTP was also not one of a simple autocratic school authorities - real injuries were inflicted and the wider WW political climate was reflected therein.

While I think Hermione needs to learn from that episode (and release Marietta from her jinx), I always held the view that hers was a wise decision given the times they were in. The same goes for Marietta. I have come to understand her position and don`t begrudge her for ratting out the DA, and yet, it should be a reminder to people that betraying anything/anyone should come at a price.
If the jinx proved to be long-lasting, then, yes, I certainly sympathise with her.

I also think getting expelled from Hogwarts is not equivalent to getting expelled from just any other ordinary school. It would seem that you might lose a lot in terms of magic/opportunities when expelled.

I have come across a few fics where the issue of Marietta was brought up and resolved in time. It`s a great way to show Hermione`s growth or otherwise.

Peace.

Reply

madderbrad November 25 2010, 05:19:21 UTC
Hi! I know I've discussed the longevity of the jinx on Marietta before ... maybe over on Fiction Alley. Anyway, the permanency of the acne isn't canon; it's a Rowling interview factoid. Rowling was asked once if it ever went away and ... hold on, I've found the quote here:

    Louie: Did mariettas pimply formation ever fade

    J.K. Rowling: Eventually, but it left a few scars. I loathe a traitor!
(I searched for the "I loathe a traitor" text, which I distinctly remembered.)

I personally don't think it's canon that the scars remained forever; at the beginning of HBP Marietta is seen with them covered up, I think, under heavy make-up. That was roughly 4-5 months after she'd suffered the jinx, near the end of the previous school year. That's consistent with the scars being permanent, but it's not conclusive proof either in my opinion.

I don`t think she put the jinx there solely for vengeance sake as it seemed to me to be a pragmatic way to know if and when your organisation is betrayed.

... after the fact, yes. But you'd think Hermione could have devised something even better? I've been spoilt by fan fiction stories which have employed unforgivable vows and the like I guess. :-)

It would seem that you might lose a lot in terms of magic/opportunities when expelled.

Well, we're never shown nor told of any other British magical school, so I think it's reasonable to assume that Hogwarts being the only such is canon. So expulsion would be a big deal, I agree.

I have come across a few fics where the issue of Marietta was brought up and resolved in time. It`s a great way to show Hermione`s growth or otherwise.

Yes, same here. That and the blackmailing of Rita Skeeter; another mistake that came home to roost a few times in fanfics!

Reply

hm276 November 26 2010, 03:57:26 UTC
Thanks a lot for the information, very much appreciated.

Well, admittedly Hermione could have devised something better, but wouldn`t that be too much for a `student group` which was supposed to be a study group only? (Even if Hermione knew it was subversive and planned accordingly?). But the problem is that JKR did not want something benign, so we got the SNEAK tattoo instead.
(And I have never read those Unforgivable Vows fics either; but they certainly sound fabulous!.

Mistakes are only mistake in hindsight, after all, so I am not sure about the Rita Skeeter debacle.

Frankly, I enjoy the aspects of Hermione`s personality which exhibits vindictive and ruthless; it makes her a more complex and fascinating character, not to mention deflect accusations of Mary Sues and of being perfect.
:) (Well, as long as she doesn`t morph into a hormonal!crying mess the likes of HBP and much-lesser-extent-DH, then I am good).

Thank you very much for the insightful reply. Peace.

Reply

madderbrad November 26 2010, 04:21:06 UTC
But the problem is that JKR did not want something benign, so we got the SNEAK tattoo instead.

More to the point, Rowling wanted the D.A. to be found out, so she dumbed our girl Hermione down. That happened a lot in the final book. Hermione packs everything except food (she packs eating utensils, she packs *tea*, but not food. Right) because Rowling needed Ron to be hungry. Hermione agrees with Harry that Snape can't betray them while they stay at Grimmauld Place ... although later on she then agrees that they have to flee because Huxley knows the secret ... because she wanted them to stay at Grimmauld before embarking on their infinite camping trip. Other times too, I think, Hermione was made stupid because a bright person would ruin Rowling's stupid plot. :-)

Mistakes are only mistake in hindsight, after all, so I am not sure about the Rita Skeeter debacle.

One of my six or so "how did I live before I discovered them?" HP fanfic authors is semprini; his fanfiction.net profile is here. He's written a trilogy based on the series as it was after OotP and then a duology after DH.

Anyway, the second book of the trilogy, "Harry Potter and the Ring of Reduction", has a very strong story element about how Hermione's treatment of Rita Skeeter came home to roost. I don't particularly want to tell you how because I don't want to spoil the story for you (read 'Veil of Mystery' first!). I'm sure there are others I've read that have dealt with Marietta to some degree too.

Reply

hm276 November 26 2010, 09:10:53 UTC
`More to the point, Rowling wanted the D.A. to be found out, so she dumbed our girl Hermione down. That happened a lot in the final book. Hermione packs everything except food (she packs eating utensils, she packs *tea*, but not food. Right) because Rowling needed Ron to be hungry. Hermione agrees with Harry that Snape can't betray them while they stay at Grimmauld Place ... although later on she then agrees that they have to flee because Huxley knows the secret ... because she wanted them to stay at Grimmauld before embarking on their infinite camping trip. Other times too, I think, Hermione was made stupid because a bright person would ruin Rowling's stupid plot. :-)`

If I have been drinking while reading this post, my keyboard would be drenched by now. ;D

I agree 101% with you. While I have never finished HBP nor read DH, the more I ponder on the butchering of Hermione`s character, the more I come to the conclusion that I should never take JKR`s version of Hermione as the standard, because she wrote Hermione to fit her plot and not the other way round. She really ruined the integrity of Hermione`s character (amongst others), something I still find hard to forgive.
Fortunately, I have managed to discover amazing writers who write Hermione beautifully.
While I have to thank JKR for creating Hermione, her version is not the one I can wholeheartedly accept, or love (at least not after OotP).

Thank you very much for the fic recs, very much appreciated.
I got reimmersed in the HP fandom (mainly Hermione-centric fanfiction) this past year and found quite a number of great fics, but there are still a humongous amount out there to be discovered. ;) So, any recs are very welcome.

(I just hope the blowback from the Rita Skeeter fiasco won`t destroy Hermione in the fics you mentioned. Looking forward to reading them).

Thank you very much! Peace.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up