To kill or not to kill and resolutions of the storyline/ Slytherins

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 185605

 
> Magpie:
> I don't think she says anything about Slytherin as a group when it's
 the group she doesn't mention. Slughorn didn't get kicked out. 
> Minerva already trusted him and he is described specifically as 
> returning.

Pippin:
She did *not* trust him.
"I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty
minutes, also," said Professor McGonagall. "If you wish to leave with
your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attmept to
sabotage our resistance of take up arms against us with this castle,
then, Horace, we duel to kill." <snip> "The time has come for
Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties."  

How exactly Minerva conceived Slytherin House would show its loyalty
by leaving the castle is hard to say. But that is the option Minerva
offers. Slughorn can hardly think that staying will demonstrate his
loyalty when Minerva has just said that any who stay will be suspected
of wanting to help Voldemort!
 
The Slytherins are grouped together with Slughorn here and expected to
act in concert with him. Slytherin House as a whole will decide on its
loyalties. Which it does, when Slughorn returns. The Slytherins who
stood to honor Harry in GoF were nameless and faceless. Harry never
bothered to find out who they were, so how would he, or the narrator,
identify them now?

Pippin