Dark Book, was Re: Dark Magic (+ a little Marietta)/Karma and the Twins

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 176924


> 
> lizzyben:
> 
> It depends, we don't know. Parkinson did. The point is not so much 
the
> likelihood, but McGonegal's seeming willingness to hold Slytherins 
as
> a group responsible for the actions of any one individual. She has
> ceased to see them as individual human beings, as sees them instead 
as
> a mass of "them", indistinguishable & dehumanized.

Potioncat:
McGonagall's statement about "duel to kill" was said to Slughorn and 
her point was "this is war, not DADA class." LV is about to enter 
Hogwarts, anyone fighting against her side will be treated as a full 
enemy. What other choice does she have? Actually, it might better 
have been said to the entire school. I don't get the idea that if one 
Slytherin attacks, she will kill all the House.

It is later that Pansy calls out for them to give Harry to LV and the 
school stands and raises wands. At that point McGonagall quickly 
starts the evacuation. She didn't allow the students to point wands 
so much as she changed the tactic. (By starting the evacuation.) The 
general order to 'put down your wands' probably wasn't a good idea.

Later we have Aberforth stating that they should have kept some 
Slytherins as hostages. McGonagall did not hold any as hostages or 
prisoners. She let them go.

Now, I don't like the way JKR wrote this section of the book. In 
interviews she's said not all Slytherins are associated with DEs and 
that some members of the other houses are also sympathetic to DEs. 
But she's chosen to make Slytherins the bad guys. It appears within 
the context of JKR's story, there is reason for McGonagall to suspect 
Slytherins (Germans in WWII?) but she did offer them a choice to 
fight with her.

I agree with Carol, I don't like the way McGonagall reacted to 
Harry's Cruciatus Curse. But I think she prepared for battle in the 
best way she could.