My take on Snape/Order of Merlin

[Terri Lyn Layman]

No: HPFGUIDX 32735

Ok, here's the deal... (slightly drawing from my own experience)

Apparently the Order of Merlin (OoM) is a very importaint award in the
annals of Wizarding.  Thus, I see it as analgous to our Nobel Prize.

Now, while Snape may be a quite proficient teacher (as well as one of the
strictest in regards to the "en loco-parente" clause involved in a bording
school), and know his topic throughly, he may always be comparing himself to
someone (maybe Dumbledore, maybe not) who HAS the OoM.  This constant
comparision, and desire for the OoM himself, may inadvertantly cause him to
be less attentive to ALL his students, and in most cases, stricter with them
than normal.

Of course, he does have his preference to his house.  But, that's to be
expected.  I get the impression that the "houses" are somewhat akin to our
(US) Fraternity/Sorority system. This would breed a great love of your
particular house, and while acknowleging that the other houses are fine
houses, you'd always exault your own house.  (Like me when asked about
Indiana Colleges/Universities.  They're all fine, but Purdue's the best.)

Now, to clairfy why I can slightly see where Snape's coming from (although I
don't condone his actions in many respects), I'll tell you why I can see it.

Purdue had two chemistry professors, Dr D and Dr B.  Dr B at one point found
the one breakthrough that made him eligibile for consideration, and
eventually won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.  Now, Dr. D had compared
himself to B for a long period of time.  He eventually became a less
proficient instructor and would have done 100% research had they allowed
him.  He was generally very strict in his courses, and when you went to his
office for help he'd send you away with a "figure it out yourself, or ask a
TA", and he'd go back to his research.  I'm not saying that D was an
extremely bad instructor.  In fact, he's the reason I can remember what
Macro and Micro mean (I'm not that great with terms and always mix them
up.).  But he always seemed to have a bitter edge that he didn't have the
Nobel himself and took it out on the students.

This is just my theory, and I could be entirely off... but hey, only JK
knows his motivations for everything, right?

-TerriLyn