HRH vs Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle (Was Snape & Neville's Memory)

[uncmark]

No: HPFGUIDX 36710

Concerning Snapes' attitude towards Neville, Harry and Wizard 
education in general

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., <porphyria at m...> wrote:
>  Part of the reason Snape is so heartlessly cruel to Neville could 
> be because he doesn't agree with coddling Neville and fuzzing out 
> the ugly truth. Maybe he thinks he can jog Neville's memory by 
> antagonizing him.
> 
> Yeah, at the risk of sentimentalizing Snape, I'd say the books do 
> hint at this very possibility. Regardless of how mean Snape is to 
> Neville, he's warm and fuzzy compared to Neville's own family. 
> Uncle Algie literally endangers the child's life (multiple times) 
> in order to smoke out his magical ability, which is one among 
> several indications that adrenaline directly affects wizarding 
> skills. 

Excuse me? the Longbottom's uncle may have physically egdangered him, 
but Snape emotionally abuses Neville and the other Griffindors daily.

> I've wondered many times whether Snape imagines that if he can 
> either terrify or infuriate Neville enough that it'll break the 
> charm. Doesn't that have Big Bangy potential? I wouldn't put it 
> past Snape's degree of cunning, especially since...

So we're to believe he mistreats the Gryffindors out of kindness? One 
flaw in that plan, shouldn't he also mistreat the Slytherin's to 
encourage the same growth?
 
Kitty wrote:
> 
> Another way he deals with the kids is by being nice to Malfoy & 
> co.  Give them false sense of security so that they trust him and 
> he can manipulate them later.  Also doesn't hurt for those rotten 
> little boys to tell their DE dads how Snape is wonderfully evil and 
> baits HP. Different motives for why he treats different kids the 
> ways he does.

When you look at the two trios you see a catch-22 in Snape's method. 
(This may go back to the Griffyndor/Slytherin philosphies of 
Bravery/Ambition) Harry, Ron, and Hermione, compared to Malfoy, 
Crabbe, and Goyle have faced more challenges and will continue to 
face more them. Curiously, HRH are motivated to learn more through 
selfless action than MCG are throu selfish ambition. 

In SS, HRH as true rookies face mortal danger as ELEVEN YEAR OLDS. To 
look for the Sorceror's stone, they face dangers that scare off adult 
DE's. 
In PofA MCG do nothing while the Heir of Slytherin terrorizes 
Hogwarts. More importantly, Hermione faces petrification and Harry & 
Ron face almost sure death for Ginny.
By PofA, Harry has advanced enough to learn Patronus which is above 
OWL level (5th year). Malfoy? He's advanced to the point of faking an 
injury.
Finally in GofF, Hermione and Ron rally behind Harry allowing 
themselves to be targets as Harry learns Stupify. Malfoy's 
acheivement? He's stupid enough to challenge HRH  when Harry has 
successfully faced Voldemort and the assembled Death Eaters without 
backing down.

To see it another way, Compare Hagrid and Snape's teaching style. 
Hagrid, while he does beed improvement, treats his student fairly and 
avoids the pettiness of subtracting points for every little 
disrespect. Snape defines pettiness and favoritism for the Slytherins.

In PofA & GoF, Hagrid faces great crisis when his job is threatened 
over Buckbeak & Malfoy's injury AND in GoF over Rita Skeetre's expose 
of his heritage. In both instances HRH went to bat for him, never 
losing hope.

Can you imqagine if Rita targeted Snape for outing in GoF? DEATHEATER 
SPY TEACHING POTIONS AT HOGWARTS! OFTEN THREATENS TO POISON STUDENTS 
AND ENCOURAGES DUELLING!

Couyld you imagine MCG going to bat for their Housemaster? I can 
picture Malfoy watching as Snape is given the wizard equivalent of 
being Tarred & Feathered saying "What's in it for me?'

Uncmark