Elkin's TBAY: Minerva McGonagall Is Ever So Evil! ( LONG)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 129183

>>Elkins: (brought to us by Alla)
> <SNIP>
>Snape betraying Dumbledore wouldn't be a shocker.  McGonagall, 
though? Now, wouldn't that be something.  Not Dumbledore's left- 
hand, but his right-hand. Not the head of House Slytherin, but the 
head of House Gryffindor.  Not the Designated Red Herring, but 
instead the very first member of the wizarding world that the reader 
ever *met?*
>Now *that* would be a shocker.  *That* would be betrayal.<
<SNIP>

Betsy:
Honestly?  I love it!  Not just because it would once and for all 
smack down the "Slytherins are evil" prejudice that prevades Harry's 
Hogwarts interactions, but because the twist is so devilishly 
unexpected, and yet, so supported by canon!  McGonagall could *so* 
be the series' Quirrel. (With Snape, returning in his critically 
acclaimed role of, The Red Herring.)

I went back and read through the threads attached to Elkin's 
original post, and they covered everything through GoF.  So what 
about OotP?  Heidi R raises a good question here: 

>>Heidi R:
<snip>
>My only question would be "Why did she help Hagrid then, go out and 
defend him in OotP when he was being removed during Harry's 
Astronomy exam?"<

Betsy:
But then she answers her question here:
  
>Of course, my second "note to self" is that Minerva was 
conveniently absent (due to her injuries) at the final showdown at 
the Ministry. Did she purposefully go forward to be injured so her 
cover would not be blown?<

Betsy:
I can see two senarios: a)McGonagall knows what Voldemort is cooking 
up in poor confused Harry's head, and she knows the time table.  She 
sees a chance to remove herself from the scene, should Harry go 
looking for her for assistance, and she takes it. (Plus, Hagrid's 
been McGonagall's best informant.  He's horrible at keeping secrets, 
and McGonagall is first on the scene at Privit Drive because of 
Hagrid.  She may have been trying to protect an asset.)

Or b)JKR knows that Harry cannot go to McGonagall for assistance, 
because that would force McGonagall to be suspiciously unhelpful. 
(Able to slide that past in PS/SS when the WW thought Voldemort 
gone, but extremely fishy here, especially as McGonogall is an Order 
member.) So JKR stages something to take McGonogall convienently off 
premises.

Also in OotP, McGonogall is *extremely* unhelpful with Harry and 
Umbridge.  She does very little to calm Harry down so he'll stop 
antagonizing Umbridge and stop putting himself under so much stress.

"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!" (OotP scholastic ed p.249)

Isn't it strange that McGonagall tries to get Harry to control his 
temper by losing hers? One would think she's unused to dealing with 
temperamental teenagers.  Plus, she sends Harry out of her office 
while he's still pretty upset and with very little practical 
advice.  Actually, she sort of insults Harry as he's leaving.

"Professor McGonagall eyed him closely for a moment, then sniffed, 
walked around her desk, and held open the door for him.
"Well, I'm glad you listen to Hermione Granger at any rate," she 
said, pointing him out of her office." (ibid)

Again, not very helpful behavior here. In fact she speaks "angrily" 
and sniffs at Harry.  McGonagall is acting almost antagonistically 
towards Harry. None of this is over the top shocking, but it's 
hardly the way to calm down a riled up child, and it's strangely 
inept for a Head of House.  Exactly the sort of stuff that when the 
big reveal is finished you can look back on and say, "Oh yes, so 
that explains..."

Also, McGonagall does nothing to assist with the DA club, IIRC.  
She's a member of the Order, so I'm sure she heard Fletcher's 
report.  And yet, no little tips dropped to Hermione to help the 
students with their subversion, not even a subtle hint of praise.  
Why?  Unless Harry not learning how to defend himself is something 
that works for her. (Yes, Snape does nothing to help either, but 
since the DA was a "no Slytherins allowed" club - I don't really 
blame him.)

And if we go with Percy being a turncoat (something I'm not fully 
onboard with, but for the sake of argument... <g>) than that's *two* 
Gryffindors that have switched loyalties who've been under 
McGonagall's tender care.  Not the best of track records.  One 
wonders if McGonagall's doing some subversive work of her own.

ESE!McGonagall?  I can *so* see it.

Betsy