Harry in NEWT Potions Class? (Was: Is Snape confident?)

[yolandacarroll]

No: HPFGUIDX 87627

mommystery2003 wrote:
<snip>
> Getting back to Harry though, he learned in the first book that 
Snape 
> was the one protecting him from falling off the broom, but never 
even 
> thought to go thank him for it - instead, he continues to see 
Snape 
> as the evil person he's told he is...also, in one respect Harry is 
> spoiled and cosseted - he continually breaks the rules, yet is 
> rewarded at the end for doing so - is it any wonder Snape sees 
some 
> of James in Harry?  What punishment did Black receive for the 
prank 
> he played on Snape?  What punishment did James receive for hanging 
> Snape upside down?  None it seems...

True Harry hasn't tried to thank Snape, but quite 
frankly I don't know how well it would go.  Snape 
is a very unpleasant person and I think that Harry 
avoids saying anymore words than necessary to him.  
I don't see Harry as treating Snape as evil as much 
as treating him like the bitter, snarky so and so 
that he is.

We haven't been told that Sirius and James got off 
without any punishment.  In fact, wasn't it mentioned 
in OOtP that Lupin got the prefect badge, beacause 
James spent too much time in detention with Sirius. 
I don't think that McGonagall for instance would 
allow Sirius and James to run wild.  I believe that 
they were punished, but simply undeterred, much like 
the Weasley twins.

Harry does break the rules and he does get punished 
for it.  The only exceptions to this are at the ends 
of the book when Harry is fighting some form of evil 
or another and when he catches the remembrall.

As far as the remembrall incident, McGonagall did give 
him a break that time, but she really wanted a good 
seeker and besides she knew about the Dursleys.  I 
think she wanted to give Harry a chance to do something 
that he was obviously good at to try to help counter 
some of the damage the Dursleys did to him.  Remember, 
the Sorting Hat said that Harry had a "thirst to prove 
himself".  Harry could have tried to "prove himself" 
the wrong way.  I think McGonagall may have wanted 
Harry to have a positive outlet for some of that 
energy.

McGonagall does seem fond of Harry, but that doesn't 
stop her from taking 50 points off of him in PS/SS.  
I don't think she was any more lenient with James.

Yolanda