Last minute points / JKR's view of it (was:Re: Special treatment - yes or no)

[Claudia]

No: HPFGUIDX 146090

Betsy Hp:
<snip>
> Was this Dumbledore's intended outcome?  I really, really doubt it.  
> As I said before, Dumbledore is incredibly weak at recognizing and 
> dealing with rivalry.  He fails at it again and again.  So I'm quite 
> sure he was concentrating on his pride and love for Harry and giving 
> little to no thought on the dignity of Slytherin.  Which is why the 
> Sorting Hat tells us that there's been little to no process in the 
> uniting of the Houses, even under the leadership of Dumbledore.


Claudia here:
Two thoughts on this issue:

First: I really, really like your thought about DD's weakness in 
dealing with rivalry. Yes, indeed, it explains a lot, e.g. also his 
troubles with Fudge/ the Ministry.

Second: My big problem with the Leaving Feast and the way of point-
rewarding is, that DD is a Gryffindor himself (yes, I remember the 
discussion if this is really canon, but according to Hermione's 
statement the kids believe that he is). So in my POV he ought to be 
especially careful how he handles such matters to avoid favouritism. 
Someone has quoted already Ron's statement at the beginning of PS/SS 
about Snape favouring his own house and I think it's Fred who says, 
he wished McGonagall would do the same for her house. Well, in fact 
she does (the broomstick incident) and so does DD.

Claudia