We've gone from sectumsempra to the nose-breaking and Draco’s moral state in HBP. The nose-breaking has a bit of a connection to sectumsempra, but Draco’s moral state is a different subject. For some reason I feel the need to summarise my view of sectumsempra and comment on Draco separately.
I related sectumsempra and nose-breaking only because they are the two Draco/Harry confrontations in HBP and as such cry out to be compared, especially as they contain such obvious contrasts: eg. Draco bad in one, Harry in the other; Draco’s action deliberate, Harry’s reflex; the harm in the first intentional, in the second unintentional; Draco pleased with his action, Harry not. They are also the latest in a long series of confrontations between Draco and Harry. My view of these confrontations is that they are essentially comedy, as is student conflict at Hogwarts generally, though it does reflect the serious conflict within the wizarding world, and the two do overlap and both need to be resolved. This may also mean that JKR intends the conflict between Draco and Harry to be resolved.
Sectumsempra could have been the catalyst for the beginning of a reconciliation between Harry and Draco: Harry’s shock at what he’d done could have raised him above the school mischief level and led him to apologise. It didn’t. Sectumsempra remained just another fight in the Draco/Harry series. Harry did see a different Draco than he’s used to, and learnt more about Draco in the tower, so it’s still possible that sectumsempra may indirectly lead to reconciliation in Book 7.
Though Harry didn’t apologise to Draco after sectumsempra, and though he was concerned with standing up to Snape, not losing the potions book, failing as quidditch captain, and losing Ginny’s good opinion, I consider that he also showed he was aware he’d been wrong to use sectumsempra.
So, having bored you to sleep, I’d like to respond to your point on the consequences of Harry’s use of sectumsempra. I think that what you say actually supports my view! Because Snape stepped in, Draco’s injury ended up being of the bruised ass variety, not the broken leg. If Snape hadn’t arrived things might have been different, but he did arrive, and as I’ve said already, took the thing back to the level of Hogwarts mischief.
I may have overstated the house divide thing, but unity at Hogwarts seems such an important thing in HP on several levels. It’s at least interesting that even Hermione didn’t tell Harry he should apologise.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Sectumsempra (Just read the last two paragraphs)
Date: 2006-11-22 11:28 pm (UTC)I related sectumsempra and nose-breaking only because they are the two Draco/Harry confrontations in HBP and as such cry out to be compared, especially as they contain such obvious contrasts: eg. Draco bad in one, Harry in the other; Draco’s action deliberate, Harry’s reflex; the harm in the first intentional, in the second unintentional; Draco pleased with his action, Harry not. They are also the latest in a long series of confrontations between Draco and Harry. My view of these confrontations is that they are essentially comedy, as is student conflict at Hogwarts generally, though it does reflect the serious conflict within the wizarding world, and the two do overlap and both need to be resolved. This may also mean that JKR intends the conflict between Draco and Harry to be resolved.
Sectumsempra could have been the catalyst for the beginning of a reconciliation between Harry and Draco: Harry’s shock at what he’d done could have raised him above the school mischief level and led him to apologise. It didn’t. Sectumsempra remained just another fight in the Draco/Harry series. Harry did see a different Draco than he’s used to, and learnt more about Draco in the tower, so it’s still possible that sectumsempra may indirectly lead to reconciliation in Book 7.
Though Harry didn’t apologise to Draco after sectumsempra, and though he was concerned with standing up to Snape, not losing the potions book, failing as quidditch captain, and losing Ginny’s good opinion, I consider that he also showed he was aware he’d been wrong to use sectumsempra.
So, having bored you to sleep, I’d like to respond to your point on the consequences of Harry’s use of sectumsempra. I think that what you say actually supports my view! Because Snape stepped in, Draco’s injury ended up being of the bruised ass variety, not the broken leg. If Snape hadn’t arrived things might have been different, but he did arrive, and as I’ve said already, took the thing back to the level of Hogwarts mischief.
I may have overstated the house divide thing, but unity at Hogwarts seems such an important thing in HP on several levels. It’s at least interesting that even Hermione didn’t tell Harry he should apologise.