expulsion (was Snape and the Prank)

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 47055

I would just like to add a quick (well, not so quick) note about 
expulsion.  I don't particularly understand why people seek an reason 
for Sirius not to be expelled for the Prank other than the fact that 
his actions did not merit such a punishment.  

Did Sirius do something that deserved punishment?  Certainly.  I 
personally hold the opinion that Sirius was simply being a thoughtless 
16 year old boy when he pulled the Prank.  However, even if he 
actually had malign intentions (wanted Snape to be injured or even 
killed), the fact is he was unsuccessful.  

Expulsion is an extremely harsh punishment.  In schools today, it 
takes quite a bit to be expelled (ridiculous instances of 6-year olds 
being expelled for making obviously unreal threats notwithstanding).  
Now consider the magic world.  Hogwarts isn't just the best school in 
England.  It's the only one.  Yes, I know some people don't think 
this, but to this point we have absolutely no evidence to the 
contrary.  I would assume that if there were other schools, Hagrid 
would have transferred to one of these once he was expelled.  So 
getting expelled basically means the end of one's wizarding future.  
Sure, you can remain in the Wizarding World and hold a "minimum wage" 
sort of job, but you will never be a true witch or wizard and practice 
magic.  

So being expelled from Hogwarts is a much more serious punishment than 
being expelled from an ordinary muggle school.  In fact, the only 
person we've ever heard of getting expelled is Hagrid.  Yes, Snape 
threatens it constantly, and various students taunt each other with 
it.  But the only actual crime we know of that has prompted expulsion 
has been murder.  And even if it was proved that Sirius wanted Snape 
injured, or even killed (the latter I find hard to believe), he didn't 
force Snape to pass the Whomping Willow.

What we have is a 16-year old boy who indirectly put a fellow student 
at risk, possibly without truly meaning to do so.  Hardly enough to 
expel someone. 


-Corinth, who just finished a thesis (seems to be a trend here, huh?), 
and finally can think about pointless things again