Umbridge and the Dementors (was Re: Percy)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 166060

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ronin_47" <Ronin_47 at ...> wrote:

> I'd like to know why Umbridge wasn't tried after 
> she admitted to sending the dementors after
> Harry to begin with. 

Geoff:
Because of who heard it. Consider the facts. Umbridge 
admits her involvement at the following point:

''What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," said 
Umbridge...
..."He never knew I ordered Dementors to go after 
Potter last summer but he was delighted to be given 
the chance to expel him, all the same."
"It was you?" gasped Harry. "You sent the Dementors 
after me?"
"Somebody had to act." breathed Umbridge as her
 wand came to rest pointing directly at Harry's forehead. 
"They were all bleating about silencing you somehow - 
discrediting you - but I was the only one who actually 
did something about it..."'
(OOTP "Out of the Fire" p.658 UK edition)

Who is present to hear this admission? Harry, Hermione, 
Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville and a number of Slytherins, 
members of the Inquisitorial Squad.

I doubt that the Slytherins would feel any great urge to 
report Umbridge for what she had said since she had 
created a power base for them. What if the Gryffindors 
tried?

Look back at what Dumbledore said on a previous 
occasion:

'But Dumbledore held up his hand to stem the flood of 
explanations.
"It is your turn to listen and I beg you will not interrupt me, 
because there is very little time," he said quietly. "There is 
not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your 
word - and the word of two thirteen-year-old wizards 
will not convince anybody."'
(COS "Hermione's Secret", p.287 UK edition)

Substitute 'fifteen-year-old' and add in that Umbridge is 
certainly not going to admit this to an adult. Fudge is not 
going to give Potter supporters the time of day and, sadly,  
she walks away without any comeback.