I hate Fudge!

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 147624

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "allies426" <AllieS426 at ...> 
wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Luckdragon" <luckdragon64@> 
> wrote:

Luckdragon:
> > Jo has created many unsavoury and unlikeable characters in the 
Harry 
> > Potter books. Which characters other than LV would you most like 
to 
> > see get their "just desserts" in book seven?

Allie:
 
> BELLATRIX LESTRANGE (and I hope it's by Neville's hand) and Dolores 
> Umbridge (as previously mentioned).
> 
> I know she's insane, so maybe she's not responsible for her 
actions, 
> but I really want to see Bellatrix punished.  When the Death Eaters 
> surround the kids in the Prophecy Room of the DoM, her immediate 
> response is "let's torture the little girl"????  And she takes 
> sadistic pleasure in subjecting Neville to the Cruciatus Curse, 
just 
> like she did his parents.  She's vile.

Geoff:
I originally posted this about 7.45 am this morning but its now 2.30 
pm and it looks as if Yahoomort has swallowed my message, so here 
goes again.

Having read your message, something came to mind which has never 
occurred to me previously.

There is a curious parallelism between Bellatrix Lestrange and 
Dolores Umbridge in the way they interact (or fail to interact) with 
young people.

They both appear to treat them as if they were not any higher than 
about Year 1 in school and speak to them condescendingly and 
patronisingly. A couple of canon quotes as examples just to support 
my point:

'"Well, good afternoon!" she said when finally the whole class had 
sat down.
A few people mumbled "good afternoon" in reply.
"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge, "/That/ won't do, now, will it? 
I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor 
Umbridge'. One more time please, Good afternoon, class!"
"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her.
"There, now." said Professor Umbridge sweetly, "That wasn't so 
difficult, was it?...."'
(OOTP "Professor Umbridge" p.215 UK edition)

She goes on to insist on such rules that pupils cannot speak without 
putting up a hand which would not endear her to 15-16 year old 
students. (I speak after having dealt with that age group for over 30 
years).

Again:

'"You've got him," said Harry, ignoring the rising panic in his 
chest, the dread he had been fighting since they had first entered 
the ninety-seventh row. "He's here. I know he is."
"The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was 
twoo," said the woman in a horrible, mock baby voice.'
(OOTP "Beyond the Veil" p.689 UK edition)

'"Come out, come out, little Harry!" she called in her mock baby 
voice which echoed off the polished floors. "What did you come after 
me for, then? I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin!"
"I am!" shouted Harry and a score of ghostly Harry seemed to chorus I 
am! I am! I am! all around the room.
"Aaaaah... did you love him, little baby Potter?"'
(OOTP "The Only One He Ever Feared" pp.714-15 UK edition)

Curious the similar ways in which they treat the young people. I can 
understand Umbridge because she appears to be a typical spinster 
maiden aunt - fluffly cardigan, little hair bow and not knowing how 
best to treat the class. But Bellatrix does not seem the type to 
react on the same way.

Any views out there?