Umbridge wants Harry's soul sucked? Re: Magic on Privet Drive

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 168449

Irene wrote:
<snip>
> I thought Umbridge's intention of sending dementors after Harry was
 more than just to discredit him by forcing him to perform the
Patronus Charm. Come to think of it, how would Umbridge even know
Harry could produce a patronus?
> 
> If Umbridge didn't know that Harry could defend himself against 
dementors, sending them after him would imply that she wanted Harry's
soul sucked, wouldn't it? *gasp*
<snip>

Carol responds:
While I wouldn't put it past Umbridge to want Harry's soul sucked, her
motive in sending the Dementors does seem to be to discredit Harry,
and, through Harry, Dumbledore. Had Harry's soul actually been sucked,
all she would have gained is the sympathy of the WW for the
permanently incapacitated Harry and their anger at the MoM for failing
to control the Dementors. (As DD points out at Harry's trial, either
the Dementors are outside Ministry control or the Ministry sent
them--neither option making very good public relations.)

That being the case, I believe her when she said that she was taking
action to discredit Harry. (IMO, she was manipulating Fudge, and it
was probably her idea to have a full Ministry trial rather than an
informal hearing in Madam Bones's office.)

How could she have known that Harry could cast a Patronus, inspiring
her to send Dementors after Harry to force him to cast one? Fudge
didn't know; Snape woke up to late to see the Patronus and didn't know
what drove the Dementors away, and Dumbledore didn't tell Fudge, who
left Hogwarts when he discovered that Sirius Black had escaped.

But what about Percy? He was on good terms with his family at this
time and would surely have heard the story of Harry's Patronus
firsthand from Hermione (and secondhand from Ron) more than once over
the summer. He seems to be on good terms with Umbridge; maybe she was
using Percy to find out information about Harry.

Carol, who thinks Percy is just an unwitting dupe easily manipulated
by those in authority, not a traitor or petit villain