Who bought the Nimbus?

[saintbacchus]

No: HPFGUIDX 37010

Zoe Hooch writes:
<<
If McGonnagle has discretionary funds, why can't she
buy a broomstick for Harry? Just because it may been
purchased with funds associated with Hogwarts in no
way means that the Nimbus 2000 somehow belongs to
the school. Hogwart's ain't real life.
>>

Um, yes it does. Imagine Lucius Malfoy (or any
parent, really) finding out that money that could
have gone towards his son's education went to buying
Harry Potter a broom. A *broom*! It's not even
important to his education! Even if the notoriously
fair-minded McGonagall would stand for that, I just
can't believe the school could get away with it.


Spottydog argues:
<<
In defense of my position, teachers are allowed
input into the use of funds for school equipment. As
long as Dumbledore approved, there is no conflict of
interest and no embezzlement. And I doubt very
seriously that this happened without Dumbledore's
knowledge and complete approval. The other heads of
houses can choose to spend their funds as they see
fit. I don't see how Mr. Malfoy could object
considering he gave 7 new Nimbus 2001 to the
Slytherin team.
>>

Malfoy would have plenty to say; he used his own
money to buy the brooms for the Slytherin team,
whereas McGonagall used the school's - in essence,
she used his money, too! And it wasn't even that she
bought a broom for the team's Seeker, she bought it
for Harry Potter specifically. If I'm paying tuition
to Hogwarts, I don't want it to be used buying
prezzies for some kid so he can better break the
rules.

And no matter what Dumbledore says, and even if it
were a team broom and not just Harry's, it's still
wrong to use the school's money to buy a shiny new
broomstick for only one team's Seeker. 

No, I don't think McGonagall used the school's
money. She may be an old softie, but I don't see
her as blatantly unfair as this. Besides, Snape
wouldn't have let her get away with it. He'd have
been demanding a new broom for his Seeker, too.

OTOH, I agree with Zoe Hooch that either McGonagall
or the she and the other teachers could have pooled
their own money to buy the broom. I imagine that to
most adults who were alive at the time of Voldemort's
reign, Harry is something like a son - it takes a
village, yada yada, and everyone feels some
gratitude to him.


--Anna