Discussion YMMV / HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix

• Marietta Edgecombe betrays the DA to Umbridge. This activates a secret jinx from Hermione that writes "SNEAK" across her face in boils. Cho considers this a mean trick, and eventually breaks up with Harry over it. Thing is, Marietta was motivated by the perceived risk of her mother losing her job at the Ministry^note It is never specified how her mother's job is under threat since she's already indicated to be a stooge for Umbridge in policing the Floo, and there's no way Marietta's actions would have threatened her career unless she let it slip to either her Mother or Umbridge that she is part of the DA, never wanted to join in the first place (Cho pressured her), and it's kind of unethical to trick people into signing a contract that punishes them for betrayal without telling them. (Heck, Hermione didn't even let her best friends know what would happen until later.) Rowling herself seems to be firmly on Hermione's side; when she confirmed that Marietta was permanently scarred, she said "I loathe a traitor." The result: some fans sympathize with Marietta and Cho while the books themselves take Hermione's side. Some even insist that Hermione is similar to Dolores Umbridge who also won't stand for disloyalty going to extremes (including physical abuse and sending Dementors) to express this viewpoint. She permanently scars Harry with the words "I must not tell lies" on his hand. Defenders point out that Harry wasn't disloyal to the Ministry, he was critical of it (which is not the same thing) and Umbridge is torturing because she (and Fudge by extension) Can't Take Criticism whereas Hermione's jinx only triggers for actual compromise and sabotage.
• Becomes a case of Both Sides Have a Point: Harry during his last fight with Cho points out that Marietta also sold out Cho, her BEST FRIEND, for fear of Madam Edgecombe who was searching the school fires and loyally serving Umbridge, losing her job. Seriously. Marietta had six months to choose sides, and she was willing to let others get expelled, including Cho, for "family pressure". She also became an Unwitting Instigator of Doom because things go From Bad to Worse with Dumbledore forced on the lam and Umbridge taking over Hogwarts. As for the jinx, there's a reason Hermione didn't tell anyone; if she told them, they could have set up a counter-jinx to nullify the contract's binding agreement. It also creates an aura of distrust if people are told that the contract they sign will expose them if they're disloyal.

This is Strawman Has a Point entry. It's big and yet it fals to show most impotrant thing. What exacly was supposed to be the point that strawman has? What i see here is two bullets of natter arguing whether or not what Herm did was wright or wrong, when Herm wasn't much of a strawman in the first place. As for argument "Marrietta's mom works at the ministry" that one was shot down in the book. Ron's dad ALSO works at the ministry, and yet it didn't push him of his 3 siblings to go to umbridge.

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