The good Slytherin / Salazar (Nigellus & Connecting 4 houses)

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 131155

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "unicorn_72" <Unicorn_72 at y...> 
wrote:
 
> > 
> 
> KarentheUnicorn's Reply:
> 
> I loved your reply, I think poor old Phineas Nigellus is a very 
> underplayed character, but his portrait seemed quite distressed to 
> know Sirius had died. I also liked how Phineas gave Harry a talking 
> to when he was ready to run away.
> Who was it that exactly said P.N. was the worst Headmaster at 
> Hogwarts? I can't remember and I know it was stated at least maybe 
> twice that I can remember, can someone point me to the quotes of 
who 
> said it, or why he was the worst??

Hickengruendler:

Sirius said in chapter 6 of OotP, that Phineas was the least 
favourite Headmaster Hogwarts ever had. It's when he shows Harry the 
Black family tree. However, IMO this is not exactly the same as being 
the worst headmaster. Phineas is a very sarcastic fellow and he 
doesn't seem to have much patience for kids. He also admitted to 
Harry in the chapter that plays at Christmas in Grimmauld Place, that 
he loathed being a teacher. Therefore it's IMO easy to see, why he 
was unpopular, especially among the kids. But I don't think, that 
that makes him necessarily the worst Headmaster, or that worst and 
most disliked is the same in this case. He could have done his work 
otherwise properly, but still be disliked, because of his sarcastic 
nature. (Not to mention that after OotP he probably has a pretty 
strong competition in the least favourite Headmaster spot, after the 
short reign of Cruella).
 
> It also seems JKR has a thing for the use of 'US' in a name, and 
> making them the nasty people...Nigellus...Severus....how come I'm 
> seeing a connection here???

Hickengruendler: 

Sirius, Remus, Albus, Rubeus, Filius... ;-)