Dumbledore's motive?/Dumbridge/McGonagall

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115529


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "frugalarugala" 
<frugalarugala at y...> wrote:

>  
> 
> Frugalarugala: 
> I think what she wants is for Harry will treat Dumbridge as if 
she's 
> Voldie-lite, a serious threat, and toe the line so as not to draw 
her 
> attention. Not that I'm suggesting that she's a Death Eater, or 
even 
> an equal threat, but she was a serious threat, far more so than 
> provoking, say, Snape.

Finwitch:

Interesting comparison. In GOF, Harry's decision to defy Voldemort 
firstly got him off the Imperius (I WON'T). Then, when he chose to 
fight instead of trying to hide, this decision is what - though not 
getting rid of the enemy - saved Harry's life and made him able to 
get back with Cedric's body.

I think that Harry WAS taking D Umbridge seriously and chose to defy 
her, *just like he did with Voldemort*, except that no magic was 
involved. Partly because it was the right thing to do, and partly 
because no one else stood up to her.

Trying to ignore, step carefully, etc. is not going to make things 
better. Not with Umbridge (the more she got away with, the worse she 
got) nor do I believe it would happen in the Real World. I think that 
Harry knew that, deep down. Like the Finnish saying puts it(Loosely 
translated): Run away from a wolf and you'll run into a bear.

Frugalarugala:

And MaGonagall (and all the staff) is in an 
> awkward position with her, it had to be foremost in MaGonagall's 
mind 
> that if SHE got canned they would be truely screwed.

Finwitch:

I think she was. That's part of the bisquit-scene, after all. Still, 
with all these teachers side-stepping around Umbridge and practically 
*letting* her do it, she got more power. Just as the (superstitious?) 
fear of saying "Voldemort" gives more power to Voldemort. Another 
saying: "Give the devil the pinky and he'll take the whole hand" - 
curiously enough, that's *precisely* what happened to Pettigrew, 
isn't it? He cuts off a finger and ends up cutting off his hand!

Frugalarugala:
 But she also had 
> to reign in Prophecy-Boy and make sure he remained in a condition 
to 
> take on Voldemort if the time came. Between his behavior with 
> Dumbridge and then the MoM, I hope the Order has reolized that 
> Prophecy-Boy needs to learn to think coolly when angry.

Finwitch:

Oh, I do think Harry could do with learning to deal with his 
emotions, particularly as emotions seem to be the very core of magic.
But punishments won't do a thing to help with that. Harry's learned, 
during his childhood, to pile up his emotions until the figurative 
steam-kettle exploded. (Not very healthy, that) 

Now that he's finally beginning to express his emotions, McGonagall 
decides to punish him for it? That's back to the old way for Harry 
(except he's absolutely baffled about it). He's probably going to 
leak soon, as Harry's way of "keeping his temper in check" is to 
suppress his feelings until he can no more and something explodes. 
That was, after all, what he tried to do with Aunt Marge.

He does know how to deal with Desire (thanks to the Mirror), with 
Fear/Dread(Boggart) and Depression (Dementor).

Much like Hermione and her SPEW, I'd say. Nice idea, wrong methods.

Finwitch