[HPforGrownups] House points and Dumbledore

[Scott Northrup]

No: HPFGUIDX 51068


Maria:
> But all this makes me wonder what exactly House points are awarded for. We
know they're taken away for breaking rules (or just bothering Snape <g>).
>
> When I first started reading PS, I assumed that the whole thing was
academic. Instead of grades, they receive House points.
>
> But I am not sure it's wise to compare academic success to the displays of
courage, bravery, etc (you list 'em in full). Tom Riddle got a trophy (or
whatever that was, my memory has just stopped functioning) for exposing the
Heir of Slytherin, so why not do the same for HHR&N? But instead, Dumbledore
just jumbles it all together with rewards for good behavior and good grades.
>
> This is what I do not like in Dumbledore's actions at the end of PS.
>
> He *ignores* all the hard work Slytherin (or whatever House) did
throughout the whole year. Would it have been so hard for >him to *both*
give Slytherin the deserved House Cup and honor the kids for doing something
that IMHO cannot and should not >be measured in the same points that
academics are? I think not.

I'd just like to note:

"While you were at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points,
while any rule breaking will lose house points."
-McGonagall (PS/SS, chapter 7: The Sorting Hat")

If thwarting minions of Voldemort isn't a triumph, I don't know what is.
Note that the Houses get points for Quidditch, which isn't exactly academic
either.

-Scott
(who thinks that Slytherin must have cheated to have ever had the lead in
House Points.)