McGonagall ashamed or fibbing?

[macfotuk at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 113258

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
> Well, note that she said "never MORE ashamed...before" not "NEVER 
> ashamed...before."  She uses similar "never" lines several times 
in 
> the books.  All I can figure is that each instance is worse than 
the 
> one before, so she's just "raising the bar" for being ashamed with 
> each new case!
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

Don't forget that MM was the source for 'never before' type 
statements (youngest quidditch seeker in a century, not won the cup 
in years etc) that seem suspiciously flint-like when analysed. 
Notwithstanding that, she should have had LOADS of prior reasons to 
admonish/punish James and Sirius (see Three broomsticks convo in 
PoA) who were notorious troublemakers, or even Fred & George. That, 
or she didn't used to check up anything like so rigorously on bad 
behaviour at night in the past compared with now. The fact that 
MPW&P were able to get up to their hi-jinks, more-or-less 
undetected, suggest that both she and DD were less vigilant in those 
pre-LV days. Perhaps all the teachers have learned to be jumpy and 
suspicious simply for their own survival (especially since so many 
must have something to do with, or owe allegiance to, OotP one way 
or another).