McG / DD / Re: Why should Harry be expected to listen to anyone at H...

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 122985


Gerry:
> Lets review the situation. On the one hand we have the school, and 
> on the other hand we have te MoM which is building an absolute 
> powerbase in this school. We have DU who is sent to this school 
> with only one purpose: to discredit and neutralize Harry and DD. 
> 
> During the summer Fudge has shown how far he is willing to go for
> that. And of course there is the dementor attack itself, which might
> easily have been issued by the Ministry itself. 
> 
> At the beginning of the school year it is already clear that any
> authority DU wishes to make sure she fulfills her job she will get.
> Justice? What's that in such an environment? It does not exist. The
> school cannot even get justice for the whole of its fifth year, who
> probably will all fail their DADA OWLS because they are not allowed 
> to practice. And under these McGonnagal should have been able to 
> secure justice for Harry against the MoM itself that is out to get 
> him? 


SSSusan:
I'm totally with you so far, Gerry.  But one quibble here --

Gerry:
> No, if anybody failed Harry against DU it was Harry himself. Again, 
> he had all the necessary information. He knew about the rigged 
> trial. He knew about the attempt to make him miss it and so be 
> unable to speak out in his own defense. He knew Fudge did 
> everything he could to get him expelled and how the only reason he 
> did not succeed was because there was a witness. How Fudge did his 
> utmost to discredit that witness. He knew about how te Daily 
> Prophet blackened him because of the MoM's wishes.


SSSusan:
You're correct that he "knows" these things.  OTOH, what he doesn't 
know is the "why" behind all of them.  WHY were the Dementors sent?  
WHY was his trial rigged?  WHY does Fudge seem to dislike him so 
much?  WHY won't they believe him?  It's obvious to us readers, but I 
don't think it's obvious to Harry.  


Gerry:
> He knew, because Hermione had it spelled out to him, that the MoM 
> was interfering at Hogwarts. And what does he do? He
> challenges DU, who he remembers from his trial as a Fudge toady. As
> McGonnagal said to him 'Where's your common sense?'. 
> 
> I think his detention was actually a good thing. He learned the hard
> way how far people are willing to go, and with what they can get 
> away if they have the authority. So for his next actions, he knew 
> the risk.  Too bad he did not manage to control his temper. 
> Yes, I know he is fifteen years old. But getting all adolescent is a
> really stupid thing to do if somebody has it in for you. Especially 
> if that somebody makes the rules.  

SSSusan:
I agree that McGonagall handled this basically alright.  Again, she 
could've perhaps been slightly less cryptic when speaking with Harry, 
but she at least explained that the stakes were high.  Here is the 
exchange:

'Potter, you need to be careful.'

Harry swallowed his mouthful of Ginger Newt and stared at her. Her 
tone of voice was not at all what he was used to; it was not brisk, 
crisp and stern; it was low and anxious and somehow much more human 
than usual.

'Misbehaviour in Dolores Umbridge's class could cost you much more 
than house points and a detention.'

'What do you -?'

'Potter, use your common sense', snapped Professor McGonagall, with 
an abrupt return to her usual manner. 'You know where she comes from, 
you must know to whom she is reporting.'
<snip>
'It says here she's given you detention every evening this week, 
starting tomorrow', Professor McGonagall said, looking down at 
Umbridge's note again.

'Every evening this week!' Harry repeated, horrified. 'But, 
Professor, couldn't you -?'

'No, I couldn't', said Professor McGonagall flatly.

'But-'

'She is your teacher and has every right to give you detention. You 
will go to her room at five o'clock tomorrow for the first one. Just 
remember: tread carefully around Dolores Umbridge.'

'But I was telling the truth!' said Harry, outraged. 'Voldemort is 
back, you know he is; Professor Dumbledore knows he is-'

'For heaven's sake, Potter!' said Professor McGonagall, straightening 
her glasses angrily (she had winced horribly when he had used 
Voldemort's name). 'Do you really think this is about truth or lies? 
It's about keeping your head down and your temper under control!'


While I *wish* Harry could have controlled himself better, and while 
I find his behavior somewhat *understandable* given his age, the 
pressure on him, and the fact that he's kept too much in the dark, I 
actually think MM went farther than anyone except Sirius to try to 
help Harry to understand.  At least Harry should have understood how 
very serious MM was, and how very serious it was for him to have bit 
his tongue when DJU said things which provoked him.

So in one way I agree with you that Harry is to blame, but not 
fully.  His being kept in the dark contributed to his 
inability/unwillingness to follow directives.  But MM certainly did 
better than DD in at least trying to help Harry understand.  *And* 
she offered him biscuits. :-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan