Minerva McGonagall is Ever So Evil

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 39608

Having been looking through CoS, a couple of pointers occurred to me.

Why did Dumbledore sent *Snape* out to look for Harry and Ron? Why 
not McGonagall, their head of House? Surely someone else could have 
taken care of the Sorting for her when two of her own students were 
missing?

Have we seen any other detentions given by McGonagall? Porphyria is 
right, that first detention in the Forbidden Forest was incredibly 
dangerous. The ones given by Snape on the other hand, are 
perceptively nasty (and seem to be tailored to individual students 
pet dislikes) but essentially safe. 

(They can even display a sense of humour - I do wonder if Lockhart 
was given a hint by Snape that Harry would be just delighted to help 
answer his fan letters.)

Why when Ginny is taken does McGonagall say after 'We shall have to 
send the students home tomorrow' (sensible enough)does she add 'This 
is the end of Hogwarts' (CoS UK paperback p. 216) - wouldn't 
something along the lines of 'and once the students are gone we'll 
tear the place apart brick by brick if we have to' be more in line 
with Dumbledore's wishes? (Snape's comment in this scene could be 
seen as a little barbed towards McGonagall as well).

Pip