[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione vs Snape

[Porphyria]

No: HPFGUIDX 37540

A few things to add to my reply to Rohit's question now that it's the 
next day. I was arguing that Snape resents Hermione because she 
constantly misreads his dramatic and rhetorical gestures and he finds 
this an affront to his authority.

Another example of my point is the DADA class where Snape assigns the 
werewolf essay. Here again, he's trying to get a secret message across 
to the class (one he might believe to be in their own best interests). 
He probably is quite well aware of the fact that the class hasn't gotten 
that far in the book yet, and he might even realize on some level that 
it's really the fault of Lockhart and Quirrell that the class is so 
behind. But he doesn't care about any of that a bit, he's just trying to 
make a point about how little they know about werewolves so he can 
justify assigning the essay. And he expects to be obeyed. So when 
Hermione again takes him literally as if he really misunderstood where 
they were in the book and as if he really wanted a demonstration of her 
own knowledge, this he interprets as an interruption and an undermining 
of his authority.

Every time he snaps at her for being a know-it-all it's always in a 
charged situation in which he experiences it as a rejection of his 
authority. She doesn't respond to him in the way he expects to be 
treated.

In fact I think that his annoyance at her and her defending of him are 
linked. He's used to intimidating people with his Specter of Death 
routine, the swooping robes and uncanny voice and so forth, and she 
always interprets him in a completely literal, prosaic way, as a 
teacher. He can make her upset (although she bounces back fast) but he 
*never* succeeds in frightening her, and I think this just plain 
irritates him. But it's exactly the fact that she does interpret him as 
just a teacher, and not as Evil Incarnate, that enables her to see him 
objectively and therefore defend him when she thinks the actual evidence 
is in favor of his innocence.

Also, as to why he doesn't appreciate her for just being a great student 
(a non-dunderhead) -- I think the last thing Snape wants is a protegee 
or apprentice or anything like that, least of a all a Gryffindor. I 
think he can't show too much favor or approval to any Gryff because he 
is invested (for whatever reason) in favoring the Slyth kids. But I 
think having a real admiree who looks up to him and wants to learn 
everything about potions from him, I think this would oblige him to be 
sort of nurturing and emotionally involved with them, and I think he's 
quite averse to being that way. I know you can make the argument that he 
is like that with Draco, but I don't really see him as being nurturing 
or mentoring with Draco either. I don't really think he wants to be 
emotionally involved with any student to that extent. So Hermione is a 
double problem, both in that she's a smart Gryffindor, and that she 
wants a type of approval he has no intention of giving. However, in his 
defense, he is giving her top marks, isn't he? (She's at the top in 
everything.) So he's rewarding her where it counts, on her permanent 
record. He probably sees this as fair enough treatment.

I do agree with Naama that Snape is naturally irascible and inclined to 
bash anything attached to Harry. But I think that in addition Hermione 
rubs him the wrong way. Naama, just for you I'm going to post something 
later today about why I absolutely love both Snape and Hagrid. :-)

Oh, and I just have to support Marina in the question of whether Snape's 
afraid of Hermione or not: I admit Snape has insecurity issues, but I 
can't believe they're to the extent of finding her a professional 
threat. He just can't be afraid of her, he's indeed to arrogant for 
that. In fact, he'd probably get along with her a little bit better if 
they were structurally equals, just as he seems to get along with the 
rest of the very talented faculty. Then he wouldn't expect her to 
constantly reaffirm his authority, he'd just respect her from whatever 
distance he chose to keep.

~~Porphyria


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]