[HPforGrownups] Re: Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 19: The Servant of Lord Voldemort

[Margaret Fenney]

No: HPFGUIDX 190752

> >  Pippin:
> >  I agree that Hermione's fear is failure. But there has to be a reason
> that this fear is personified by McGonagall.

Bookcrazzy:
It could very well be because she has a lot of respect for McG.  It could
also be because McG is her head of house.  If Hermione felt bullied by McG
or disliked her, I think she would have mentioned it in the books, heaven
knows there is no doubt how Harry, Ron and Hermione felt about Snape!



> > Bookcrazzy:
> > I don't think she is ever abusive to any student of any house.
>
> > Pippin:
> > Oh, she has her "mudblood" moment. It's right at the end, when she tells
> Slughorn she's going to kill his students if she suspects them of hindering
> the defense. And wands are indeed aimed > >
> >with her approval, not just at Pansy Parkinson, but at the whole of
> Slytherin House, ickle firsties and all.
>

Bookcrazzy:
I don't think her action compares at all.  She isn't acting purely out of
personal feelings but is making sure that there won't be trouble to the
defense from the Slytherins.  Once it is clear, that's the end of it.  Sure,
McG doesn't like the Slytherins but she doesn't personally abuse any of
them.


> Pippin:
> > In the same conversation,McGonagall tells Neville that his problems are
> due to lack of confidence. But she never connects that with her teaching
> style.

Bookcrazzy:
Neville's problems are due to a lack of confidence and it comes from hearing
his grandmother tell him he doesn't measure up to his parents, not from
McG's teaching style.  McG is telling Neville to help him and tells him
about his grandmother and Charms specifically to do that.  Again, if Neville
disliked McG, I think he would say so at some point but while all the kids
respect her, they don't dislike her.  No teacher has a teaching style that
is optimal to all students and McG is undoubtedly strict but she is *about*
as fair as they come.

Bookcrazzzy


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