The student reaction to the tooth incident

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 70184

I admit, I am not a product of a UK-style school. I am a product of 
American schools, specifically U.S. Air Force Base schools.

So, I am admittedly out of my depth when it comes to looking at the 
Tooth Incident in GoF as part and parcel of the school experience. 

Concepts like in loco parentis, where the adults in a residential-
school are, because of the absence of parents, responsible for 
matters such as safety, are what I know. This applies even to 
colleges and universities in the U.S., let alone boarding schools 
starting at age 11.

So, where shall I turn to for help with this cultural divide? How 
about to the kids themselves?

Page 263, UK. Snape has just been shown by Ron, the damage to 
Hermione.

"Pansy and the other Slytherin girls were doubled up with silent 
giggles, pointing at Hermione from behind Snape's back."

This would indicate that even Pansy and her friends weren't bold 
enough to mock and giggle openly in front of a teacher, even their 
own head of house. Clearly, they would expect a teacher to not allow 
laughter over another student's injury, or else they'd be more bold 
about it.

"Harry and Ron started shouting at Snape at the same time," and we 
are left to assume that vulgarity, profanity and insults are all 
parts of these shouts. Snape "gets this gist" and gives them 
detentions and takes away 25 points each.

But when have we ever seen Harry and Ron, or other students, snap and 
yell at Snape like this? He's certainly attempted to provoke them at 
other times. Harry backtalks Snape about James in PoA, but only after 
Snape carefully provokes him, and Harry does keep his tongue civil, 
just angry.

But Harry and Ron's reactions indicate sheer and total outrage, which 
I submit comes at least partially from shock that Snape would stoop 
even this low.

Later in the page, Harry's "ears are ringing", "the injustice of it 
made him want to curse Snape into a thousand slimy pieces." 

Ron is "shaking with anger."

Harry "pictures horrific things happening to Snape" and actually 
dreams of doing the Cruciatus curse. He dreams of breaking a potion 
over Snape's head.

Again, I ask, when have we seen these kids react like this before to 
Snape's taunts, or unjust point-taking? 

After three years of Snape, one would think they would be used to 
things like this, if it were part and parcel of their experiences 
with him.

Clearly, this is something worse to the kids, which indicates to me 
that it is new ground for Snape.

Snape crossed a line here. 

Does it mean he is Ever So Evil? No, not by itself. Could he still 
playing a role for the Slytherins? Absolutely. Has Hermione not only 
gotten over it, but used it to her advantage, shrinking her teeth 
where she wants them to be? Without a doubt.

But the line still got crossed and it IS a big deal.

At least, the kids seem to think so. And, for all the debates about 
British-model schools and American lawsuits, this is Hogwarts, and 
they have more experience at Hogwarts than we do.

Darrin