This is a great post, especially where you discuss the difference between morals and rules, something that I think flies over many people's heads.
I am a HP fan, but not in that fandom (if that makes any sense), so I will not comment on Hermione other than to say that I find her no or less more moral than the other main characters. They all face choices and make the best decisions that they can, and they all want to do the right thing. I don't think Hermione is bestowed with any special moral understanding or wisdom that sets her apart.
I have heard this said about Scully before, and have always found it curious. I think what fans are trying to express is that Scully is a center of proper human behavior for Mulder to check himself against. Mulder admittably has a shaky grasp of what is acceptable behavior in society, but I think he's quite clear on what's right and what's wrong. In fact, his overwhelming sense to do what is right quite often leads him on destructive rampages that hew down all who blunder into his path. (I'm thinking of the hapless FBI agent in Talitha Cumi who gets offed by the Bounty Hunter, only to have Mulder say that those are the risks we take for the cause. Too bad Mr. Dead FBI Agent didn't know that.)
Scully, on the other hand, has the reverse problem: her adherence of rules and proper conduct sometimes stand in the way of her making the right choice. She gets better at this as the years go on, and when it comes down to it, I think Scully generally makes the right choices. (And here I'm thinking of her going to jail for contempt of Congress in Terma because she won't give Mulder up.)
But overall, I would not say that either one of them has the upper hand in morality -- they are good people, doing their best, but they are flawed, as we all are.
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I am a HP fan, but not in that fandom (if that makes any sense), so I will not comment on Hermione other than to say that I find her no or less more moral than the other main characters. They all face choices and make the best decisions that they can, and they all want to do the right thing. I don't think Hermione is bestowed with any special moral understanding or wisdom that sets her apart.
I have heard this said about Scully before, and have always found it curious. I think what fans are trying to express is that Scully is a center of proper human behavior for Mulder to check himself against. Mulder admittably has a shaky grasp of what is acceptable behavior in society, but I think he's quite clear on what's right and what's wrong. In fact, his overwhelming sense to do what is right quite often leads him on destructive rampages that hew down all who blunder into his path. (I'm thinking of the hapless FBI agent in Talitha Cumi who gets offed by the Bounty Hunter, only to have Mulder say that those are the risks we take for the cause. Too bad Mr. Dead FBI Agent didn't know that.)
Scully, on the other hand, has the reverse problem: her adherence of rules and proper conduct sometimes stand in the way of her making the right choice. She gets better at this as the years go on, and when it comes down to it, I think Scully generally makes the right choices. (And here I'm thinking of her going to jail for contempt of Congress in Terma because she won't give Mulder up.)
But overall, I would not say that either one of them has the upper hand in morality -- they are good people, doing their best, but they are flawed, as we all are.