You’re right: sending wandering Gryffs into the forest to get a scary taste of real adventure (though preferably with more careful instructions to Hagrid about keeping an eye on them) makes sense as a punishment from “strict but fair” McGonagall. But sending Draco makes sense only if JKR’s purpose is to demonstrate what a worthless coward Draco is compared to Heroic Harry and his friends.
How about this instead?
“As for you, Mr Malfoy: Professor Snape will not be pleased when I tell him that one of his Slytherins was so lacking in cunning as to be tricked by a pack of my Gryffindors. The others can have the adventure they wanted so badly and see how well they like it, but I will leave your punishment to the creative imagination of your own Head of House. He will find a way to remind you how little he enjoys having his students embarrass him before another staff member.”
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timeasmymeasure
“Strict but Fair” Minerva
Date: 2014-11-20 09:51 pm (UTC)How about this instead?
“As for you, Mr Malfoy: Professor Snape will not be pleased when I tell him that one of his Slytherins was so lacking in cunning as to be tricked by a pack of my Gryffindors. The others can have the adventure they wanted so badly and see how well they like it, but I will leave your punishment to the creative imagination of your own Head of House. He will find a way to remind you how little he enjoys having his students embarrass him before another staff member.”