The "face-value" theory of PoA -- now with shiny acronym! (LONG)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 45405

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Porphyria Ashenden" <porphyria at m...> 
wrote:
> Porphyria brings home her shiny new PRESSURE COOKER and puts it on 
> the counter. She had been admiring a MAGIC DISHWASHER in the 
window 
> and was amazed at all it's complicated features and intricate 
> craftsmanship, but then she ultimately decided that a PRESSURE 
COOKER 
> would be more durable in the long run. 
<snip>
> 
> But the MAGIC DISHWASHER sales staff is very enthusiastic. 

<snip Porphyria's replies to Pip's replies to the PRESSURE COOKER 
post>

Porphyria has amazingly managed to make just about all the arguments 
I would've made, thus saving my cramped fingers the effort of yet 
another long post.  I do have one point to add, however:

> -----
> [I do have a problem with the way Snape, who has spent the last 
> three books apparently trying to get Harry expelled, is so 
> extraordinarily tentative when faced with someone [Fudge] who may 
> well have the power to *insist* Harry be expelled. However, it is 
> not yet canon that the MoM does have that power
, so we'll ignore 
> that objection.]
> -----
> 
> Well, maybe this is MD'ish of me -- no not really -- but I don't 
> believe that Snape wants to get Harry expelled. Snape wants to 
> frighten Harry into behaving. He does this by threatening to expel 
> him. (When this doesn't work, by GoF, he tries threatening him 
with 
> Veritaserum. But they are *always* empty threats. He never follows 
> through.)

I tend to waffle on whether or not Snape really wants Harry 
expelled, but even if he does, we know his efforts are doomed, since 
it's Dumbledore he's opposing on this matter.  Dumbledore will never 
allow Harry to be expelled.  Note that in Lupin's case, Snape takes 
the fight to Lupin himself -- a more vulnerable party.  Snape 
doesn't bother trying to get Lupin fired -- he knows Dumbledore will 
never do it.  So Snape creates a situation where Lupin resigns 
voluntarily.  Since Harry can't expel himself, Snape can't go that 
route.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com