Covering for Hagrid

[sunnyskywalker]

In my re-read of PS/SS, specifically looking for instances when the adults ought to know more than the kids about what’s going on, a penny finally dropped. Apologies to everyone who probably figured this out years ago.

Comments

Minerva's Bathrobe

[hwyla]

Minerva being in her bathrobe does somewhat suggest that Draco went to her directly instead of finding whomever is on patrol.

This also says something about the assumption that Draco is Snape's favorite. This is the second time Draco goes 'tattling' and yet neither time does he go to his own head of house. IF Snape REALLY favored Draco, wouldn't Draco have gone to him? The 'favorite' myth is all based on Snape pointing out Draco's perfectly chopped slugs in that first class - something that IF Snape had done for Hermione (IF she had chopped hers perfectly) would not have later been remembered - well possibly - she was rather disliked at the time - they might have thought 'teacher's pet' about her too.

Anyone else think (in retrospect) that the fact they sere slugs is supposed to link Snape's treatment of Draco in that 'praise' with Slughorn? Note that Draco did not even receive points for it. Compare that to Minerva rewarding Harry's misbehavior in Flying class with a broom and an exception to the rule prohibiting first years from playing quidditch. True, Draco started it all, but it was again a Slytherin threatened with death by a Gryff. Harry DID say he would knock Draco off his broom - after just seeing Neville hurt in his fall from one.

Really makes the Gryffs look like 'whiners' for taking exception to the way Snape 'favors' his own house.

Re: Minerva's Bathrobe

[sunnyskywalker]

The really odd thing here is that it doesn't look like Draco woke her. Here's the passage from the first US edition, Oct. 1998:

Then a sudden movement ahead of them made them almost drop the crate. Forgetting that they were already invisible, they shrank into the shadows, staring at the dark outlines of two people grappling with each other ten feet away. A lamp flared.

Professor McGonagall, in a tartan bathrobe and hairnet, had Malfoy by the ear.

"Detention!" she shouted. "And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you--"

"You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter's coming--he's got a dragon!"

"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on--I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"

So, it sounds like Malfoy was lying in wait, and hadn't gone to her. But then who did call her out of bed so suddenly? A portrait? Or is Terri right that Dumbledore told her Draco was going to be out with some lie to entrap Harry, and that she should "happen upon him" to make sure there was no "unpleasantness"? (Maybe then she asked a portrait to wake her if Malfoy was spotted.) And she now realizes just what kind of mess Dumbledore has roped her into...

Re: Minerva's Bathrobe

[hwyla]

I just cannot see her remaining in her robe IF she knew she would need to go grab a student. I can understand a portrait waking her, but not her expecting to go out of her room (as in Albus told her to expect Draco).

I have no idea how Draco would know where to find her room. It isn't as if her Gryffs even know. But just because she is lecturing him on wandering the halls, doesn't mean he didn't wake her. Perhaps he requested a portrait 'fetch' her?

[sunnyskywalker]

It is weird. But I can't really see her "grappling in the dark" if Draco had just knocked on her door either. Wouldn't she light the lamp when answeing the door, or ask who it was? They didn't walk here together from her quarters or they would have had this conversation already. It sounds like she was wandering in the dark in her bathrobe, which is just weird.

[hwyla]

Well, IF Draco did have a portrait 'fetch' her and he really had no idea where her room was, then she might have just gotten to him. Doyle reasoning? JKR just wanted to ensure Harry heard it and he would not have if she had said it at her bedroom door. But IF Draco never found her door and asked a portrait to get her, then that would work for a Watsonian reason.

You know, another alternative is that he didn't ask for Minerva specifically, but asked a portrait for a teacher and the portrait decided that since it involved her Gryffs, then it should be Minerva that was awakened. This actually works a bit for Draco having learned his lesson from the 'duel' and tattling to Filch. Draco is on the scene this time, perhaps waiting to ensure that Harry & co. actually show up (since they weren't there for Filch to find). So I can see Draco waiting near the Astronomy Tower and asking a nearby portrait to get a teacher. The only problem with that is he has NOT yet seen Harry. So perhaps a portrait acted on its own? But then, why get Minerva for a Slytherin?

One of my main points about this all is that this is the second time Draco has 'tattled' and neither time has he involved Snape. I need to think about whether or not this changes later in the books. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of him continuing to tattle. I think it's more that they just get caught.

Does this mean Draco learned his lesson? Tattling at Hogwarts will not work and may only get you in trouble as well? Or was he more covert (doubtful, considering the way he cannot keep his mouth shut in bk2).

I do agree that this detention would have colored the way Draco saw Hagrid. We know he saw him as 'just a servant' in Diagon Alley, but I don't recall him saying anything about him being dangerous - tho' I could be wrong about that. He certainly knows Hagrid is dangerous after the forest detention.

And what does this all say about the idea that Harry believes Draco is Snape's 'favorite', if he doesn't go to his own head of house to do this tattling? Not to mention that later on that Draco works to hide his own misdeeds (bk4 - the 'teeth') from Snape.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Draco goes to Severus in POA when Harry's head shows up illegally in Hogsmeade.

[hwyla]

Thank You! I was drawing a blank, but it did seem unlikely that he never did tattle again.