Sadism or not ? McGonagall and her punishments

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 186733


> Magpie:
> Whoa. Sorry I missed this but wow, this is exactly the kind of thing that would drive me crazy if I was a kid. It's exactly the "spirit of the law" that gets broken by saying that McGonagall's only "bending" it by going to Dumbledore. 
> 
> If the point is safety, then all first years who demonstrate an aptitude for flying should be able to be able to bring a broom (not that Harry even has to bring a broom--he's given a gift of a broom that's better than anyone else's while every other student has to buy their own or use the school brooms). Harry's hardly the first first year at Hogwarts to be able to fly already by the time he gets there. He's not even the only first year who's a good flyer in his own year. If a kid isn't already flying he probably wouldn't have a broom to bring in the first place. So to me the spirit of the rule must be directed at "naturals" like Harry as much as anybody else.  

Pippin:
Whoa. Calling Harry a good flier is like calling Mozart a good musician. Harry is truly exceptional, capable enough as an absolute novice  to make a catch that Charlie Weasley, who could have played professionally,  couldn't have made. Harry gets to be the youngest House player in about a century, so the rule has been bent before, probably for the same reason, a truly rare talent.   Would you deny Mozart his own musical instrument and the opportunity to play in competition?

Pippin