I've now read this chapter a few times and re-written this comment in many forms, mostly in hopes of deleting excessive and undignified profanity. As I dwell on what to say, I can't help but exhort your ability to make me livid at fictional characters. The reality you present is spellbinding and my reactions are visceral, yet almost tangible.
Okay, easy one first. I'm through with the Weasel (in this novel)! I didn't see any redeeming facets in his character growth prior to this chapter, and now his intense homophobic bigotry has finally gone beyond redemption, imo. I had been hoping you would express the irony that he and Lucius were on the same side and you even took it a step further by having Harry point out that even Lucius was more honest. So the Weasel's hurt and feels betrayed, whatever, it's not that bad because he has the emotional depth of a turnip. The dolt doesn't even understand Metamorphosis and then has the gall to suggest that Harry should've lived perpetually unhappy by inventing a "normal" persona in order to appease Ginny, wtf? And he blames Harry for the betrayal, when he's the one who obviously can't be trusted. I'm shocked by the people who suggest that Harry should have forced the issue, when his wife, the supposedly smart one, married the bigot, which in and of itself is highly questionable, and apparently has done nothing to make him a decent human being. Harry oozed mega-guilt and he just piles on more, what kind of friend can he truly be?
Now, Hermione is on a separate level of disdain for me. She chose to marry a bigot, so I'm not exactly convinced she's not one, despite her protestation to the contrary. She's been more concerned with the rights of near-humans (house elves) than real humans and this has no moral high ground here. I mean, what has she done in the last 10 years to improve the lives of GLBT wizards, other than nothing? Her weak offer of assistance to make a peaceful transition is shallow and borders on insincere. She is not the paragon of virtue that people may want to believe, she is as flawed as everyone else, the only difference is that she would be the last one to admit that. The superior than thou attitude reminds me of the old saying that being smart does not equate to being good in any fashion.
It never seems to occur to her why Harry felt he couldn't trust them with the truth. Perhaps precisely because they reacted almost exactly as he predicted. She purports to care and didn't even notice that Harry wasn't really the person she thought he was. Not only did she not even admit, let alone apologize for inflicting a spell on Harry (through Ron), she is going to destroy him (and his personas) and she couldn't be arsed to listen to what he was saying or respecting his wishes and suggest discussing the issue further before running of and tattling (she hasn't grown up at all, it seems). This is the height of arrogance and self-righteousness that annoys me beyond repair. It should be noted that as an author you have made me feel so deeply about characters that I am constantly beholden to your genius! But back on the main rant, she actually thinks she always knows best; can't even take a step back and realize that Harry has been deceiving her for 10 years and there are probably very good reasons why. The patronizing tone of her saying that she won't force Harry to choose between Draco and her, as if she has any say in whom Harry loves and even grudgingly conceding that Harry could be in love with Draco, as if Harry wouldn't know what love was, made my teeth hurt! Not once do words akin to I'm glad you've found someone or that you're in love even touch her lips. She is by far the most judgmental you have ever written her (and probably most accurately portrayed). Anyone who knows anything about addiction (or immersion), knows that in order for someone to get help, they first need to want it, and then it has to be gradual. But no, Hermione is smarter than that and will betray Harry's secrets in order to make herself more important.
CotG 37 (aka The Walls Come Tumbling Down) Part 1
Okay, easy one first. I'm through with the Weasel (in this novel)! I didn't see any redeeming facets in his character growth prior to this chapter, and now his intense homophobic bigotry has finally gone beyond redemption, imo. I had been hoping you would express the irony that he and Lucius were on the same side and you even took it a step further by having Harry point out that even Lucius was more honest. So the Weasel's hurt and feels betrayed, whatever, it's not that bad because he has the emotional depth of a turnip. The dolt doesn't even understand Metamorphosis and then has the gall to suggest that Harry should've lived perpetually unhappy by inventing a "normal" persona in order to appease Ginny, wtf? And he blames Harry for the betrayal, when he's the one who obviously can't be trusted. I'm shocked by the people who suggest that Harry should have forced the issue, when his wife, the supposedly smart one, married the bigot, which in and of itself is highly questionable, and apparently has done nothing to make him a decent human being. Harry oozed mega-guilt and he just piles on more, what kind of friend can he truly be?
Now, Hermione is on a separate level of disdain for me. She chose to marry a bigot, so I'm not exactly convinced she's not one, despite her protestation to the contrary. She's been more concerned with the rights of near-humans (house elves) than real humans and this has no moral high ground here. I mean, what has she done in the last 10 years to improve the lives of GLBT wizards, other than nothing? Her weak offer of assistance to make a peaceful transition is shallow and borders on insincere. She is not the paragon of virtue that people may want to believe, she is as flawed as everyone else, the only difference is that she would be the last one to admit that. The superior than thou attitude reminds me of the old saying that being smart does not equate to being good in any fashion.
It never seems to occur to her why Harry felt he couldn't trust them with the truth. Perhaps precisely because they reacted almost exactly as he predicted. She purports to care and didn't even notice that Harry wasn't really the person she thought he was. Not only did she not even admit, let alone apologize for inflicting a spell on Harry (through Ron), she is going to destroy him (and his personas) and she couldn't be arsed to listen to what he was saying or respecting his wishes and suggest discussing the issue further before running of and tattling (she hasn't grown up at all, it seems). This is the height of arrogance and self-righteousness that annoys me beyond repair. It should be noted that as an author you have made me feel so deeply about characters that I am constantly beholden to your genius! But back on the main rant, she actually thinks she always knows best; can't even take a step back and realize that Harry has been deceiving her for 10 years and there are probably very good reasons why. The patronizing tone of her saying that she won't force Harry to choose between Draco and her, as if she has any say in whom Harry loves and even grudgingly conceding that Harry could be in love with Draco, as if Harry wouldn't know what love was, made my teeth hurt! Not once do words akin to I'm glad you've found someone or that you're in love even touch her lips. She is by far the most judgmental you have ever written her (and probably most accurately portrayed). Anyone who knows anything about addiction (or immersion), knows that in order for someone to get help, they first need to want it, and then it has to be gradual. But no, Hermione is smarter than that and will betray Harry's secrets in order to make herself more important.