Dumbridge/McGonagall

[frugalarugala]

No: HPFGUIDX 115562


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> --- 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: 
When I called her Voldie-lite, I meant in terms of threat. As you 
said, he chose to defy her *just like Voldemort*, but she's not. 
Handling her required a different approach. More of a guerrilla war 
approach than open defiance. The whole thing with Umbridge nicely 
parallels the MoM battle--and Harry's first impulse was still to rush 
in and face an enemy directly. 

<snippity-snip>

> 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.
> 
<snip>

Frug: 
I agree Harry has to open up and life with the Dursleys taught him 
not to do that, but emotional maturity isn't just expressing 
emotions, it's knowing when and how and to whom. As for point-taking, 
I'm sure it was born of frustration and that McGonagall would have 
liked to take him and shake him while yelling, 'Don't give her any 
excuses! You're on her hit list! Don't give her any excuses!' But 
that's the sort of non-aloof McGonagall we only occationally see, 
like when she's under stress or the influence of quidditch... 

For what it's worth, I'm not convinced that McGonagall actually knows 
how to handle Harry's emotional problems--yes, he *has* emotional 
problems, he was raised in a closet by the Dursley's *of course* he 
has problems, the only question is why he doesn't have more problems! 
But I'm not getting into the whole Harry thing, I'm just talking 
McGonagall, here--I mean, she is very aloof, very self-restrained. I 
think she does care for Harry deeply, but I don't see her as knowing 
how to deal with his emotional needs. 

--Frugalarugala, who CAN spell 'McGonagall', just not correctly.