Hagrid, Moody and Violent Responses

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 34144

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Fiat Incantatum" <fiatincantatum at a...> 
wrote:
> > You have a point there.  Still, I don't think direct physical 
attack 
> > on a student is considered an acceptable method of discipline at 
> > Hogwarts, or McGonnagle wouldn't have been so apalled.  Also, if 
it 
> > *was* acceptable, Snape would've been drop-kicking Harry up and 
down 
> > the corridors every day.
> 
> No argument there!  I was thinking more of the bouncing than the 
actual 
> transfiguration.  That seemed to be what upset McGonnagle, the 
fact that Malfoy 
> had been *turned into* something, not the subsequent bouncing 
around.

I don't have my copy of GoF handy for checking (I lent it to my 
mom), but I distinctly remember having the impression that it was 
the bouncing that bothered her.  I could've been a combination of 
both things, though.l

> 
> That being said, why is it then considered *funny* when the twins 
start selling 
> trick sweets that turn people into canaries, albeit for only a 
minute or so at 
> a time?

The short time limit probably has a lot to do with it, plus the fact 
that Gred and Forge don't bounce the canaries.  The generally 
cavalier attitude toward the creams does kinda support my point that 
it was the bouncing McGonnagal was getting worked up about.

> 
> And lastly, given Snape's dismissive attitude towards "wand 
waving", I suspect 
> his Transfiguration marks weren't as high as they could have 
been.   So maybe 
> he *couldn't* turn anyone into anything even if he wanted to 
<cheeky grin and 
> ducking the slings and arrows of outraged Snapeniks>
> 

Dismissive attitude or not, every time we actually saw Snape engage 
in wand waving (the Dueling Club chapter in CoS, floating four 
people on conjured stretchers in PoA, etc), he seemed thoroughly 
competent at it.  But even if he sucks at transfiguration, it seems 
to me that if you really want to bounce somebody, it is not 
absolutely necessary to turn them into a small, furry animal first.  
(It's just more fun.)

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com