McGonagall vs. Umbridge (Was: CHAPDISC: HBP 29,...)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 164099

--- "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> dungrollin: <snip>
> > > 10. <snip> Since all the portraits are sworn to 
> > >help the current head, do you think they will tell 
> > >her about the horcruxes? If they refused, do you 
> > >think she has the potential to turn into an Umbridge,
> > >or worse?
> > 
> zgirnius responded:
> <snip> 
> > I don't think McGonagall has much in common with 
> > Umbridge. It is my opinion that she asked with the 
> > intent to help Harry, and further the work of the 
> > Order in Dumbledore's absence. The extenmt to which
> > the portraits must obey the current head is unclear to
> > me. I'll be curious to see what other people think.
> 
> Carol adds:
> Thanks for calling my attention to this part of the 
> question, .. I agree that McGonagall will never turn 
> into an Umbridge. She's strict ..., but she also has 
> a kind, compassionate side ...
> 
> What McGonagall would do if the portraits refused to 
> defer to her, I don't know, .... .... Everard informs 
> her that Scrimgeour is coming, tacitly acknowledging 
> her authority as headmistress. ... The office's and the
> portraits' acceptance of her seals the bargain.
> ...
> 
> Carol, who thinks that McGonagall will be too busy as 
> headmistress to play much of a role in helping the Order
> in DH but that she'll aid Harry in small but necessary 
> ways...
>

bboyminn:

Apologies for some poor snipping.

Relative to what McGonagall would do it the portraits
refuse to divulge information to her, I think we are
ignoring one thing, Dumbledore's portrait is right there
in her office. If she needs to know anything, she can
ask Portrait!Dumbledore and he will either tell or not
tell, and I think the other portraits will respect his 
choice. 

True the portraits are loyal to the new headmistress, 
but that doesn't mean they can ignore their loyalty 
and confidences with Dumbledore, especially not when
Dumbledore is right there. 

I think McGonagall will accept Portrait!Dumbledore's 
choices just the same as she accepted the real 
Dumbledore's choices. She knows that in war, all things
can not be revealed to all people; that's just the
way it is. 

I'm sure Harry will treat her and other people the same
way, as he has already shown with Scrimgeour. She may
not like it any more that Scrimgeour did, but I think
she will accept it graciously. 

So, no McGonagall -> Umbridge transformation.

Steve/bboyminn