Getting rid of McGonagall (GoF)

[Hillman, Lee]

No: HPFGUIDX 23529

I have to say I really agree with all the superb reasons people have
mentioned for telling Molly at the time that Dumbledore reveals Sirius to
her.

There are two things about McGonagall that I don't believe have been
discussed, though one point has already been mentioned.

The first is that (as I think either Amanda or Amy said) Minerva may already
know about Sirius. Dumbledore has had a whole year to fill her in on what
happened in Prisoner of Azkaban. She may not need to be shown that he is an
Animagus because she may already know. Poppy doesn't necessarily need to
know, and as someone said, the best way to keep a secret is to tell no one
unless you have to do. Along with this (while we're recapping things that
have been said), I agree that D's priority is focused on getting Sirius and
Severus to recognize that neither one is an ogre.

Here's the new one that I think people have ignored: What if he sends Poppy
and Minerva away not to protect Sirius, but to protect Severus? (Now,
personally, I think not, because I think again, Minerva knows everything,
including the original deal with Snape being a spy.)

I truly, deeply believe that Severus is going back to the Death Eaters. It
is too important to have a source of information from inside, and besides,
if he does not, he will definitively and finally reveal that he has left
Voldemort. If he does return, he can at least _try_ to convince them his
intentions in no way jeopardized the DE's. However, that's not the point I'm
making in this post.

If that is his task, to return and worm his way back into Voldy's good
graces (and mind, I in NO WAY mean to imply this will be easy), then it may
well be important that as few people as possible know that that's the plan.
Dumbledore needs Molly to understand what's happening so she can fill Arthur
in later. Bill just needs to give him a heads up, but Molly will have all
the skinny later so they can form their own plans as to how to work through
the ministry without tipping their hands there. Minerva, if she doesn't know
already, may be protected from knowing about Snape's mission because it
leaves her in a position of plausible deniability. She can honestly say she
doesn't know of any ties to the DE's.

Again, Poppy is in the unenviable position of not being very key to any of
these power plays. I believe Dumbledore sends her out for her own
protection. The more any of the staff know about aiding and abetting
fugitives, unofficial and indeed specifically unsanctioned espionage, and
conspiracy against the Ministry, the better.


Gwendolyn Grace