Bathroom scene again WAS: Re:Weasley Family Dynamics/To t...

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 165011

Sherrie wrote: 
> <snip> Still - even if he were off-balance, as you state, Harry had
other options, short of that figurative shank.  "Stupefy" should have
come more easily to his lips than a spell he'd only just read - and
it's easier to say quickly.

Carol responds:
Not only that, he knows what Stupefy and Expelliarmus will do. He's
used them against Death Eaters. They are, after all, defensive spells
intended for that purpose, not "for enemies," which sounds as Dark and
deadly as it turns out to be.  
>  
Sherrie:
> As for McGonagall NOT getting involved, had she been the teacher who
 arrived on the scene - I hope she'd have been at least as harsh on
Harry as  Snape was.  Draco caused Harry no physical damage - indeed,
short of  Legilimency or a Penseive, there's no proof that Draco did
anything at all, beyond Harry's word.  Yet there he is, bleeding to
death from wounds that  are obviously not self-inflicted, with Harry
the only possible suspect. <snip>
>  
>  A few detentions for bald-faced lying and cheek?  Harry should  be
grateful that's ALL he got. 

Carol responds:

Yes.As I said upthread, McGonagall makes it clear that she approves of
Snape's detentions and that Harry should consider himself lucky that
he wasn't expelled. (And we might think about *why* Snape didn't avail
himself of that option.) I don't think that as self-defense plea would
have justified Harry's actions in the eyes of the school governors or
the MoM considering that other options, known defensive spells that
Harry had used many times, were available. Using an unknown spell
labeled "for enemies" is like saying "But I didn't know the gun was
loaded." If he doesn't know what it does but it's clearly dangerous,
it's just plain stupid to use it.

However, if McGonagall had arrived on the scene instead of Snape,
Harry would be facing something much worse than expulsion or
detentions with Snape. He'd be facing charges for manslaughter or
second-degree murder. McGonagall is a Transfiguration teacher, not a
DADA expert or Healer. Snape is the inventor of the spell that Harry
used. He recognized it instantly and knew the counterspell. Possibly,
he invented it (or discovered it in some obscure book of ancient
magic). I doubt that anyone else, including Madam Pomfrey and even
Dumbledore himself, could have saved Draco. Both boys are extremely
lucky that Snape was there.

Carol, who does realize that Harry was in an awkward position and
considered Draco capable of casting a Crucio but nevertheless thinks
he had better options than Sectumsempra and needs to resist the
temptation to use Dark magic under any circumstances