[HPforGrownups] Re: Neville Longbottom

[Susan Hall]

No: HPFGUIDX 22969

>It seems many of the adults in Neville's life are trying to steel him
for the worst yet to come in their own way. Snape's way just happens
>to be harsh.

>But given what he's been through,  to him it may not seem all that
harsh.

As a matter of fact, it does "seem all that harsh" to Neville: that's why
his Boggart turns into Snape.  That is, when you look at it, an appalling
indictment of Snape's teaching methods.  That is why, despite all the
appealing arguments put up by the Snapefans out there, not excluding
Rebecca's absolutely charming and brilliantly written fics, and even
excluding the very forceful argument of Alan Rickman, I cannot, under any
circumstances, like Snape.  Treating Harry the way he does is in some senses
excusable, and anyway by the time Harry has defeated Voldemort a time or too
Snape can reasonably assume he's tough enough to take it - anyway, anyone
who duels with rubber haddocks in a teacher's classroom is asking for it,
IMHO.  It's less excusable with Hermoine (I don't agree with those who say
it's ok because she's a swotty little know-it -all.  That may justifiably
make her unpopular with the kids, but knowing the answers is what pupils are
supposed to do.  Punishing them for doing the right thing is simply
objectionable) but, again, after the first half term, when she is clearly
lonely and isolated, and is retreating to Being Good At Lessons, which is
the only area from which she can derive any self-confidence, Hermoine can
take it as well.  Neville can't.  Snape isn't toughening him up - he's
making him less confident and therefore less competent.  To make a
comparison, Harry conjured the Patronus in POA "because he knew he could".
All Snape's behaviour to Neville is doing is convincing him that he knows he
can't.  He's tormenting him, because it's easy.  And even if this is to keep
up some sort of front it has real effects on a real person who is made less
not more able to cope by it.

Susan