CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 15 (The Hogwarts High Inquisitor)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 94384

Debbie:
5. What did Umbridge hope to achieve through the inspections? Has
she targeted certain professors (we learn that Flitwick's was "no
big deal")? Does she have a hidden agenda beyond discrediting
Dumbledore, and if so, what is it? Is JKR using Umbridge to lampoon
government interference in education?

Jen: Hmmm..interesting question. The two teachers Umbridge targets, 
Hagrid and Trelawney, are considered sub-par by many of the 
students. But I don't think Umbridge is looking out for the 
student's best interest there! She's merely targeting the easiest of 
Dumbledore's defenders, a group which also includes McGonagall, 
Sprout, Flitwick & Snape, who are more skilled in their teaching and 
perhaps also harder for Umbridge to bully. I guess she could have a 
personal agenda as well, a bias against Divination and Care of 
Magical Creatures as less 'theoretical' subjects. 

Debbie:
8. What, if anything, does the revelation of McGonagall's December
starting date at Hogwarts signify? Is this a clue to a significant
backstory, or a red herring?

Jen: Given what we know about Dumbledore's hiring of Trelawney, 
Hagrid & Snape, you have to wonder if McGonagall wasn't also brought 
to Hogwarts for reasons other than her competent teaching ability. 
After all, she's old enough to know LV was Tom Riddle and perhaps 
was somehow involved in his rise to power or his many 
transformations.

Back in September, I wrote an essay about 'Hogwarts as Sanctuary' 
#81631 (link below) and I think McGonagall could be another example 
of the many children, adults and creatures Dumbeldore has brought to 
Hogwarts for their own safety.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/81631


Debbie:
7. Did you guess after reading Trelawney's inspection that 
Trelawney's hiring had to do with her first correct predicion?  
And did anyone mark the fact that Trelawney's dire prediction for 
Umbridge came true in the Forbidden Forest?

Hickengruendler: 
a) No, I didn't guess it, but I really think I should, because it 
seems completely logical right now. Why else would Dumbledore have 
hired for her?
 
b) Yes, I did. I realized it the moment the dark Bane attacked 
Umbridge. Trelawney's fake predictions mostly come true. I think JKR 
uses them as foreshadowing.  


Jen: No, I had no clue Trelawney's hiring date had to do with her 
first prediction. It seems so obvious now! I also wasn't part of 
this group yet, and pretty much took the stories at face-value prior 
to HPFGU ;). Re: Hickengruendler's thoughts on Trelawney's fake 
predictions--I hope this means Harry will "live to a ripe old age, 
become Minister of Magic, and have twelve children"! (OOTP, US, 
chap. 26, p. 582)

Thanks for a good chapter discussion, Debbie!