[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape and respect

[Melissa McCarthy]

No: HPFGUIDX 51028

Tom Wall said:
> > I have to disagree with that. There's a theme
> > in that first day in the classroom. Snape mentions
> > it twice by different names.
[edit]

Alla said:
> Oh, I respectfully disagree. The only theme I saw in that classroom
> was bullying of eleven year old boy by his teacher, who as it turned
> out later has a twenty year old grudge against this boy's dead father
> (for saving his life, no less) and since he can't fight with James,
> he would make life miserable for Harry.

I agree with Alla.  I spent much of the first books trying to like Snape,
largely because Dumbledore trusts him, but these incidents of bullying made
it difficult.  The last straw for me came in GoF, chapter 18, when
Hermione's teeth are hit by a spell and grow past her chin, and his only
reaction is to say, "I see no difference."  That was cruel and
unprofessional.  Snape is a teacher, an adult.  It's one thing for Malfoy's
group and Harry's group to be tossing insults back and forth, but he has a
duty to be above that.  No matter how hard I try, I just can't like Snape.

Alla said:
> I am repeating myself all over again, but how is it Harry's fault
> that he is famous? He did not ask for his fame, he clearly does not
> want it. If Snape is gealous of Harry, I would say tough.

I agree, and I would also say that it's about time Snape got over himself.
Some amount of favouritism toward the Slytherins is probably inescapable,
since he is after all the Head of Slytherin, but again, the man is supposed
to be an adult, for goodness' sake.

Melissa, who originally typed "he is after all the Heir of Slytherin"... and
wouldn't *that* be an interesting plot twist!