Sadism or not ? McGonagall and her punishments

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186632

> > Alla:
> > 
> > Could you please remind me where it happened? I would like to reread it please  if you do not mind and could you please remind me if she knew that Lavender lost her bunny? Thanks.
> 
> a_svirn:
> It's in OOtP, Chapter 15 at the start of the class with Umbridge inspecting it. And the entire Gryffindor House knew about that bunny.

Alla:

Thanks I will take a look. I know students knew, but was McGonagall present?

> a_svirn:
> Yeah, that one punishment that lasted for nearly half the term. And which he didn't really deserve in the first place, since she was the one at fault. How about that time when she pointed out – with a theatrical sigh and before the entire class – that his grandmother had sent her the permission form because she didn't trust Neville's memory? She didn't *have* to it this way, did she? But why miss a good opportunity to embarrass a student? 

Alla:

That one was unexcusable I agree.

>> a_svirn:
> Ok, this is really neat, I'll admit. Then again, one of the students was Draco, and surely Snape must have been informed about the punishment, and Snape knew about the whole Unicorn thing (he even knew who the culprit was). So he must have warned her, most probably argued with her, but was obviously overruled. There. She knew. 

Alla:

So you are saying that Snape would agree to let Draco, student whom he had protected and cherished go if he knew? I would think that at the very least he would have insisted to go with them. But we are just making different inferences here, I obviously think that mine is stronger, but I cannot add anything else on this point and actually on the most points that we are discussing and will just agree to disagree.

> 
> > Alla:
> > However, if she knew that was horrible of her, no questions about it, if not, I think it is no worse than many other Hogwarts punishments and if she used it because she felt she had to, I am okay with it. As much as I can be okay with Hogwarts' punishments, which is not much.
> 
> a_svirn:
> And Snape too did feel that he had to discipline students. I am sure Umbridge felt that she absolutely had to do everything she did. You know what's interesting, though? Flitwick apparently didn't have to bully his students for the Greater Good. Nor did Lupin. Nor did Sprout. Even though they too were Hogwarts professors.
>

Alla:

Um, I am sure biggest sadists are sure that they are doing it for the greater good. I still do not know where in the books you see canon showing McGonagall as enjoying herself. And I already addressed Snape and of course his tone with Harry often shows it. I do not think I seriously need to address Umbridge, I am pretty sure though that in OOP she somewhere described as being pretty close to definition number one - getting off students pain.

I am not sure what your point is about mentioning other teachers though. That they are better? Of course they are, I totally agree with you.

I rank them all above Snape and Mcgonagall, no questions about it, or at least I am not sure I had seen enough Flitwick classes to be sure that he cannot be awfully harsh.

I just rank McGonagall higher than Snape, that is all.

JMO,

Alla