Expulsion from Hogwarts (was Re: Young Snape - H/N - Mrs Figg)

[aprilgc at ivillage.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15325

mmmfanic wrote:

>No, I'm not ignoring the fact that Dumbledore can expel him but he 
has to have a very, very good reason such as the death or serious 
injury to a fellow student.

I don't think we have any clue what it takes to get expelled.  In CoS 
chapter 5, Snape takes R & H to his office and says, "Most 
unfortunately you are not in my house and the power to expel you does 
not rest with me."
Dumbledore says that they are McGonagall's responsibility and it's her 
decision what to do with them.  

Granted, no one died or was seriously injured (unless you count the 
WW), but they did break the underage decree AND get themselves viewed 
by Muggles while they were at it.

Also, considering the time someone did die and a student was expelled 
(Hagrid) - what evidence gathering/procedure was done then?  I know we 
are privy to everything that happened, but it seems like it comes down 
to one really good student (Riddle) condemning a mediocre one, and the 
Headmaster at the time going along with it.  After all, by the time 
Riddle informed anyone of his "suspicions", the "creature that Hagrid 
had set loose to kill the Mudbloods" (Aragog) had already gotten away.  
They didn't have enough evidence to send him to Azkaban, but they 
expelled him based on it.

a.