Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 115465


from Great post on McGonagall by SSS:
> > Hopefully it is apparent that her role has changed from beginning 
> > to present.  She evidences more responsibility, she is officially 
> > Deputy Headmistress, if she was not before; she stands firm, she 
> > metes out punishment.  For me, Harry's thought [just above] when 
> > McGonagall had been sent to St. Mungo's spoke volumes about how 
> > HE sees her importance.  I wonder why we HPfGU'ers just don't 
> > talk about her much....

 
Finwitch:
> Umm.. As I recall, McGonagall signed the first letter Harry recieved
> from Hogwarts as Deputy Headmistress.

SSSusan:
Ack!  You are right, of course.  I botched that one.  [I think she 
didn't ACT much like 2nd-in-command then, though, did she?]


Finwitch:
> As to why we don't talk about her much, (unlike the never-ending
> discussion on Snape) I think it's because there's nothing to point
> that she has secrets, quite the opposite, as she's the only
> *Registered* animagus we have been introduced to 

SSSusan:
So you mean she's just more "What you see is what you get," then? 
With no deep, dark past or closet full of skeletons?


Finwitch:
> What comes to her relationship with Dumbledore, well...
> 
> 3) Before this scene, she and Dumbledore may well have been in a
> strictly professional relationship, with Dumbledore standing 
> higher. 

SSSusan:
Right.  I wonder, though, how/why things changed so much in the 
intervening 10-11 years.  Why, for instance, he's "Albus" and she's 
ostensibly sharing a cuppa hot chocolate with him in the evening....


Finwitch: 
> 4) She shows herself as one who won't believe rumours without 
> getting comfirmation from someone who truly knows.
> 
> 5) She objects, for the first time perhaps, to something Dumbledore
> deems best.
> 
> She has her opinions Dumbledore doesn't agree with, but I believe 
> that points 4) and 5) are why Dumbledore begins to confide in her
> afterwards. 

SSSusan:
So are you saying that DD wanted to see her rise to the challenge a 
bit? Show that she was willing to take him on? 

I'm curious what instance(s) you're thinking of when you say she 
shows herself as one who won't believe rumors w/o confirmation....


Finwitch:
>Just what IS the deal with Dumbledore offering Lemon Drops
> and the other *always* refusing? Sure, Dumbledore likes them and 
> it's only polite to offer, but none other will have one? 
> (Dumbledore's favourite way not to answer a question, I've noticed: 
> Distraction by candy).

SSSusan:
You may have a point there about distraction!  But in that first 
instance, in Privet Drive?  Poor MM is looking for some reassurance 
and gets offered candy.  Maybe he was trying to shock her a bit, get 
her to adjust her focus?

Hmmm.  Now that you mention this, is that what was behind MM's 
offering Harry a biscuit?  He seemed equally stunned.  

"Have another biscuit."  
"No, thanks."  
"Don't be ridiculous."

Has always struck me as a funny scene, but I've never felt sure what 
she was doing.

Siriusly Snapey Susan