Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 115485


Geoff:
> But she's on first name terms from the beginning....

> Bearing in mind Dumbledore's insistence on calling folks by their 
> title, this seems to imply a measure of familiarity and 
> informality between them.

Yb:
I've often thought about when DD calls people by their first name. 
He does prefer to use the appropriate title for most, except for two 
cases:

1) When he needs that level of familiarity and informality, usually 
when he's dealing with a student (in his office, usually)

or

2) When  he is reinforcing the fact that "I'm a lot older and a 
whole lot smnarter than you! Don't argue with me!"

Number 1 is evident at the end of OotP, when DD is talking with 
Harry in his office.

I like the scenes when Number 2 is apparent because they usually 
involve some of that dry humor DD is so famous for, and he's usually 
poking a bit of fun at the ones he's talking to. My favorite example 
is his "great escape" in OotP with Fudge and Umbridge. DD refers to 
those particular two (and McGonagall, at one point... again "I know 
better than you, don't argue!") ONLY by their first names, like 
errant children, as someone in this thread pointed out somewhere. I 
found it to be absolutely HILARIOUS. No titles of honor there.... 
heeheehee.

And of course, Phineas, at the end of the chapter:
"You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts...but 
you cannot deny he's got style...."

After such a great chapter, with DD being as condescending as 
possible, nothing topped it off like that quote.

~Yb, laughing out loud reading the chapter now.