Chapter 12: Professor Umbridge

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This month, we will be discussing the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

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Discussion Leaders,
HG Severusa.Snape & HB Siyuske_Tryeth

Students talk about how the fifth year is O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) year and that the year will be tough with major exams at the end. The students talk about what sorts of jobs they would like to have when they finish school. In Potions class, Harry manages to make a mistake that Snape teases him about. Harry gets very frustrated at Ron and Hermione arguing. Divination is boring and unsatisfying as usual, this class focused on dream interpretation. Harry doesn’t want to reveal his.

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, they get their first taste of Professor Umbridge. She explains that they will be using a new Ministry-approved curriculum that involves no practical component. Hermione causes a big stink by arguing about this. The rest of the class joins in. When challenged that this type of teaching won’t help in the real world, Umbridge responds that, "This is school-not the real world."

Umbridge calls Harry a liar for sticking by his claim that Voldemort is back and he gets detention. Professor McGonagall tells Harry to be careful and to try not to upset Umbridge but it is clear that McGonagall doesn’t like her either.


Question:
The ministry keeps insisting that Cedric’s death was an accident, how would you think they went about with defending the claim. taking into consideration the events that transpired during GOF. How could they have proven or claimed that Cedric died due to an accident?

For the Ministry, the best way to prove that Cedric died because of an accident is not to offer proof beyond reasonable doubt (which is the intelligent recourse) but to discredit those who claim otherwise, hence the smear campaign against Albus and Harry. Both the Headmaster and Harry cannot offer solid proof anyway re: the return of the Dark Lord, and if one is dealing with the likes of Fudge, what amount of proof short of showing the actual person would suffice anyway?

The thing is, the Ministry itself is also not willing to find proof (fear of finding it, perhaps and be proven wrong) because it doesn't want to find proof. It doesn't want to admit the terrifying possibility of a comeback by Voldemort. By continually denying his return, everyone can go on with their lives albeit living on false information.

Well,no one really saw what had happened in the graveyard right? Besides Harry Potter,Voldemort and his followers the Death Eaters,who else was there to prove the fact that The Dark Lord really has risen again and had killed Cedric? As was said earlier,Harry and Dumbledore don't have solid proof--proof that can win over the public to agree with them. But as it was,there was no plausible or solid proof given.

They could've used that against the claim that he was killed by Voldemort. Who would believe something that you haven't seen for your own two eyes? Who would believe the word of a young boy compared to the Minister of Magic? Adding to the fact that the Tri-Wizard tournament can--is-dangerous itself, people would assume that he really did die by cause of accident,not by what Harry and the Headmaster claimed. I agree with DADAProfAE--it is the fear of having to face the fact that the most dangerous and evil wizard of the time rising again that drove them to continue denying it,thus delaying the inevitable if only for a bit.

The ministry keeps insisting that Cedric’s death was an accident, how would you think they went about with defending the claim. taking into consideration the events that transpired during GOF. How could they have proven or claimed that Cedric died due to an accident?

~ they made the people believe by publishing the stories that diggory really died in an accident because no one saw it in the graveyard except harry, voldemort and the death eaters. another is, the ministry continues to discredit harry's side, which is the cause of MEDIA BLACKOUT to the wizarding wolrd.