CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 12, "Professor Umbridge"

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 91215

"cubfanbudwoman" <susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> Jen asked:
> > 7) Why does McGonagall warn Harry that misbehavior is Umbridge's 
> > class will cost more than a few detentions? What does she think 
he 
> > will lose?
> > 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> I think she could mean any number of things.  That Harry came 
close 
> to being in big trouble before the school year even began.  Has he 
> forgotten so quickly?  Fudge would love an excuse to bring him 
back 
> to the MoM for another trial and/or to kick him out of Hogwarts.  
She 
> might be thinking ahead to the possibility that Dumbledore is 
likely 
> to get involved in defending Harry, which could have consequences 
for 
> his ability to stay at Hogwarts.  She might also be thinking about 
> the need for keeping knowledge of the Order under wraps.


Jen: I wasn't sure what McGonagall meant when I analyzed this 
chapter, but you make a case for numerous consequnces for Harry, DD 
and the Order. You know, after re-reading this chapter, it surprises 
me Umbridge and Fudge didn't target Harry from the beginning to get 
to Dumbledore. Why did they want Harry out of Hogwarts, knowing 
their strategy would be to undermine DD over the course of the year? 
Divide and conquer, I guess, but they obviously don't view Harry as 
the threat, only Dumbeldore (so again, why get Harry out of 
Hogwarts?). Oh, unless they *are* targeting Harry to get to 
Dumbledore by staging the courtroom drama. It doesn't seem staged 
though, and Fudge didn't appear to get anything from the proceedings.

Annemehr:
>(Answering same question about McGonagall)
>I'm not sure if she's thinking anything in particular, but I'm
>reminded of that nasty smile Umbridge is wearing as she watches 
>Harry finish a very successful DADA OWL complete with corporeal 
>patronus.I'm betting Harry gets a nasty shock when he receives his 
>OWL results because Umbridge has already set some plan in motion. 
>Even if Dumbledore gets it all cleared up, for the sake of the 
>story there'll have to be some consequences; I wonder what they 
>could be?

Jen: Ooh, I never thought of that! Another mess for DD to waste time 
on so he can't get back to the business of the Order. Maybe the 
courtroom drama *was* staged to drain away all of DD's time? 
Umbridge and Fudge know DD will always rush to Harry's defense, even 
though they don't know why. Maybe Dumbeldore was right when he said 
his love for Harry was a 'flaw in the plan'. Now DD has set himself 
up as a target just like Sirius, although of course he will be 
harder to get to.