Dumbledore's motive?/Dumbridge/McGonagall

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 115588


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:
> 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 
> take the whole hand 


SSSusan:
I don't agree with this view myself.  I think that McGonagall's 
comments to Harry were all about TACTICS and SELF-PRESERVATION (for 
Harry & those loyal to The Order/DD).  

To me this situation *isn't* like one where, if you give a person a 
pinky, she takes the whole hand.  Umbridge *always* wanted the whole 
hand.  The question is, how long will it take before she grabs it?  
Fudge made it clear that he's *allowed* DD to make some decisions he 
(Fudge) thought questionable over the years, without stepping in.  
The implication, then, is that Fudge CAN step in.  At this point--
with Umbridge's appointment--it's clear Fudge is just waiting for any 
excuse to have the Ministry take over Hogwarts.  

*This* is what I think McGonagall is referring to when she's advising 
Harry.  It may be inevitable that Umbridge/Fudge are going to chip 
away at the Hogwarts leadership & manner of doing things, but at 
first it *is* a chipping away, not a wholesale takeover.  I think MM 
wants Harry (and others) to do everything possible to NOT give 
Umbridge/Fudge any excuses for cracking down, even if it's only a 
delay of the inevitable.

The comparison to Snape by Frugalarugula is noteworthy.  Standing up 
to Snape in the way Harry stood up to Umbridge likely WOULDN'T have 
done as much damage, I agree.  Snape, for all his nastiness, *is* 
apparently on the same side as Harry.  So while he'd punish Harry, 
the consequences of that punishment would like impact Harry alone.  
Whereas standing up to Umbridge could carry consequences much more 
far-reaching, such as putting DD in the position of having to defend 
Harry, which could get him sacked.  I think MM knows this, and that's 
exactly why she took 5 points from Harry and warned him to cool it -- 
she's trying to get his attention!

Siriusly Snapey Susan