Hermione's question is interesting: what can Dumbledore have been thinking when he let Umbridge into the school? I am sure he had good reasons, as he is a clever cookie at the worst of times. He must think her more sensible than she is. I am not talking about the not teaching magic bit. I am sure that is a peace offering to the Ministry, an attempt to keep them from interfering too much at Hogwarts (he must have realised the children would find a way around that).

The main thing that surprises me is not that she gets away with talking the Ministry talk, but that she gets to torture his students. Dumbledore as the powerful, benevolent force that controls all that goes on at Hogwarts disappears from view in this book, and it is here that he becomes human, not just a comforting plot device. I like it. He is no longer omnipotent and omniscient (omni being within Hogwarts for the purposes of this argument).

I also like how Hermione assesses the situation and knows just which button to push when it comes to controlling the twins.

I find her tactics with regards to the house-elves disturbing, however. It does not really fit with the insightful, buddingly wise Hermione we have been seeing. Perhaps it just jarrs with her skilful handling of the twins. I don't see how she can think it is all right to trick house-elves into picking up clothes (on a side note, I cannot see how it would work, anyway -- surely house-elves are able to clean and tidy clothes, so the mere act of picking them up should not free them, and Hermione, surely, is not in a position to free them anyway: that must be tied to the Headmaster). It indicates a semi-bigotry which while of a different kind than the most common, is still problematic: she is basically saying that they are not capable of deciding their own destiny, that she (a witch) must do it for them -- surely that is no better than what other wizards do when they keep them enslaved.

Ron should know better than to insult a girl's knitting prowess. But his sneaking off to practice Quidditch is very cute.

Luna's declaration that she believes Harry is very clear. It reminds me of Neville's. Of course, it has no effect on others, quite the contrary. I suppose, taken with Ernie Macmillan's I suppose there is some sort of subtle moral about how the support may appear more valid because a person has higher standing, but that in reality… something, something. Luna is, after all, the one who comes with him to the Ministry later.

Umbridge is truly shockingly evil. So evil. I notice there is a suggestion that she could be connected to Voldemort (Harry's searing pain in his scar when she touches him), but to my mind she is even scarier as an independent agent. So evil. At least Voldemort has passion. And he is straight-forward, honestly evil (if that makes sense to anyone but me). The idea of her being under the control of Voldemort would be comforting.

The reason given for Harry's keeping the torture secret is really very good. I like how it gives some depth to his character. He is not just shouting-boy. Of course, that is not altogether good. How can he be so loud about some things that he should not be loud about, and then be Joe restraint about things he should speak up about? Never mind. I know. Teenager with issues. Except this bit I understand, and so it doesn't annoy me.

I am also impressed with Harry's interception-proof letter. Clearly he CAN do things carefully if he wants to.

Percy. His letter. Ick. I like Ron's response to it. It is very… unequivocal.

I find it very hard to believe Hermione didn't already have the grade levels down. No way. It would be the first thing she looked up. Never ever would she hand in something without knowing how it would be graded.


I love and adore McGonnagall. Really, truly. Harry is right, of course: she does nothing to placate Umbridge, but I suppose that is because she feels she can handle her, as long as she does not actively speak out against the ministry. Hah. Whoever has tried the "I did what I was supposed to do" like with a hell-bent bureaucrat knows that that will not fly.

Perhaps she does it in the way that she does because she wants to demonstrate to her students that Umbridge is not in the right. It is her job as a teacher, after all.