[HPforGrownups] Use of names

[Morag Traynor]

No: HPFGUIDX 18731

Amy wrote:
<snip excellent observations on names>

>-McGonagall actually refers to most male students by their last names;
>I don't believe she ever calls Harry Harry, even when she's feeling
>quite tender towards him (e.g. when she takes him out to the tent for
>the first task [GF, "The First Task"], or tries to bring him to the
>hospital wing after he's narrowly rescued from Crouch Jr. [GF,
>"Veritaserum"]).  Like Binns and some other professors, even Snape,
>she is more likely to refer to girls as "Miss" whomever.

For whatever reason, in the kind of school where it is usual to call boys by 
last names only, it is not usual to refer to girls in the same way.  
MacGonagall's usage conforms with this.  I think it shows her less willing 
to step outside her role at Hogwarts than Dumbledore is.
<snip>

>-Lupin calls Snape by his first name but Snape calls him by his last
>name.  I'm not sure what to conclude from this.  Is one of them being
>rude, and if so, which?  (Lupin for being more familiar than Snape is
>comfortable with, or Snape for rebuffing a friendly gesture?)  Or
>maybe it means nothing; each is simply referring to the other the way
>he refers to everyone of similar rank.

I think Snape is being marginally ruder, though it is a kind of standoff, in 
that neither is prepared to adjust their own usage to the other's.  Like 
you, I'm not sure how much weight to put on this.  And it may be largely 
because of the plot-point you mention.

>-I find it a little odd when Parvati refers to Hermione as "Hermione
>Granger" (it's right after Harry asks her to the ball).  There is
>probably only one Hermione in the school, and she's Parvati's roommate
>and constant classmate--this gives an odd sense that they are quite
>distant.

It is odd, especially as, even if there were two Hermiones, she could 
reasonably expect Harry to think of his close friend first.


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