OoP: What Snape is really doing out there...

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 65869

Rowena: 
> 
>    Actually I don't. Think about it, Hermione, Ron and Harry were 
> responsible for inflicting very similar injuries upon a number of 
> their classmates as a diversion so they could steal the ingredients 
> they needed from Snape's private stores. Frankly Snape's unfeeling 
> response to her distress is no more than karmic retribution. The 
real 
> question is did Snape *know* it was? I think the likely answer is 
> yes. Doesn't he tell Harry that he knows he stole things from 
Snape's 
> office?


Snape is a teacher. 

He allowed a student's injuries, which she sustained through no act 
of carelessness or neglect on her own, to go untreated. And he 
insults a young teen girl's appearance in front her peers.

Were I Dr. Granger, DDS, I'd introduce Snape to the Muggle methods of 
tooth extraction without Novacaine for doing that to my daughter, but 
I'd settle for demanding his removal as a teacher.

Malfoy was trying to hit Harry and nailed Hermione, who was trying to 
break up the fight by moving Harry away. Snape not only justified it, 
but enabled Draco to do that kind of thing again by letting him know 
he not only wouldn't punish him, but would insult the victim.

By the way, Snape does this again in OoP, by ignoring 14 eyewitnesses 
who saw Katie get hexed.

Perfect lessons you want to teach your children.

But, regardless, I've always found it more likely that Snape is 
playing a role and can't be seen coddling Hermione the Muggle-Born in 
front of the Slyths than Snape taking it upon himself to disburse 
karmic retribution.

Either way, it is loathsome. At least under the first scenario, it is 
loathsome for the greater good. 

As for Snape not getting the credit he deserves, let us remember that 
we don't know exactly what he did as a DE and what sins he's trying 
to wash away (if he truly is on the Order's side, which is still in 
doubt) so as long as we're talking about karmic retribution, I'd 
prefer to wait until we see Snape's debts and credits before passing 
judgement on what credit he deserves.

Is he risking his life? On the surface, yes.

But his petty refusal to continue the Occlumency lessons, his 
continual digs at Sirius (Look, Headmaster, look at all the work I'm 
doing, while Sirius sits on his butt! Jesus, GROW UP!), his 
insistence on calling V-Mort Dark Lord and his refusal to allow Harry 
(who, after all, has earned the right to refer to V-Mort as Lord 
Marvolo of the Cream Cheese Burrito if he wants) to use the true name 
all speak to something deeper with this guy.

And until I find out what it is, I'm reserving any and all credit.

Darrin
-- I love the 80s moment: "I remember seeing Bruce Springsteen 
dancing and thinking 'Stop it.'"