It's funny that these people don't seem to realize how, imo, they turn more people off to the character than inspire to like them better.

Word! Ahahaha, okay, just amusing myself a bit too much with the mutual admiration society, but still, absolutely. Personally, fans who *honestly* think their fave in mistunderstood/mistreated by fandom and approach the topic from that direction *immediately* turn me off -- especially when they lay the blame at the feet of another character. Well, or it makes me laugh maniacally (ie, people claiming that Harry traumatized poor Sevvie by grimacing at him at the feast and being a "brat" in the first class).