General Thought/Question about Potions, No Spoilers

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 66898

Marianne:

> 
> I can't dismiss Potions quite that quickly.  I think the genius of a 
> talented Potions maker would lie in taking his/her knowledge of 
> ingredients and in figuring out how new combinations of items, and 
> differences in the processes of how they're put together would result 
> in different or new potions.  I keep making the analogy in my head of 
> Potions Masters and Master Chefs.  Great cooking is not simply a 
> matter of taking a bunch of food and seasonings, throwing it into a 
> pot and then a fabulous dinner is created.  If it was that easy, we'd 
> all be great chefs.  Some people have a better understanding of how 
> certain things can meld together to create something marvelous.  
> Other people simply scorch the pot.
> 


Oh, I have no doubt that Snape is a great Potions MAKER. We know he can 
concoct difficult potions like the one that helps Lupin stay calm as a werewolf. 
He might even be a great Potions inventor, though I don't believe we have 
canon for that yet.

In fact, there has been speculation that his position is akin to a research 
professor at a university. 

But all this doesn't speak to his Potions teaching abilities, which I am more 
and more finding lacking.  Simply put, knowing your stuff is not in any way an 
indicator of whether you can teach that stuff.

Darrin
-- I love the 80s moment: "My favorite scene in "Fast  Times at Ridgemont 
High" was when Phoebe Cates took off her top, because I'm a simple, simple 
man."