[HPforGrownups] Is Snape unfair with House Points? (WAS Re: Teacher Ratings (Was: Why I hate Hag

[Ladi lyndi]

No: HPFGUIDX 56667


--- Tom  wrote:
> So, every instance that I can find of
> point-taking on Snape's part is 
> the result of actual rule-breaking on the
> Trio's. 
> 
> Even Dumbledore has to remind Harry to be
> respectful of Snape's 
> postion in PS/SS, US paperback, Ch.17, p299:
> 
> "Quirrell said Snape "
> "*Professor* Snape, Harry."
> "Yes, him "
> [emphasis is converted from italics]
> 
> And we see over and over again that whether or
> not the Trio *likes* 
> Snape, they don't treat him with respect at
> all.
> 
> We don't have any in-canon situations where
> Snape gives ridiculous 
> amounts of points to a Slytherin student, as,
> say, Dumbledore does in 
> PS/SS and CoS for the Trio. 
> 
> Show me a situation where Snape takes points
> flippantly, for no 
> reason whatsoever. 
> 

Me:

Oh, a challenge.  Well, not much of one since the
first example that came to my mind hasn't been
brought up yet.

In PS p. 104, in their first Potions class, after
Neville had melted the cauldron:
"You - Potter - why didn't you tell him not to
add the quills?  Thought he'd make you look good
if he got it wrong, did you?  That's another
point you've lost for Gryffindor."

Seems to me that while Snape gave an explanation
it was totally ridiculous for him to do so.  How
would Harry know what Neville was doing when he
wasn't working with him?  If not telling Neville
was a point-taking offense, the point should have
been taken from Neville's partner.  Snape here
sets the tone for the perception that he intends
to be totally unfair to Harry and reinforces the
perception that he is unfair to those from
Gryffindor.

And, while it's not points, during the
Gryffindor/Hufflepuff Quidditch match:

PS, p. 163:  "'You know how I think they choose
people for the Gryffindor team?' said Malfoy
loudly a few minutes later, as Snape awarded
Hufflepuff another penalty for no reason at all,"

As for Harry not respecting Snape, well, if I
entered my first class with someone and got
treated as Harry did by Snape, I'd have no
respect for that teacher either.  Harry did
nothing but take notes.  Gee, call me thick but
isn't that what a student is supposed to be doing
when a teacher lectures?  Harry had done nothing
to indicate that he thought he was some type of
celebrity or that he was better than anyone else
and yet Snape made a point of targeting Harry.

PS p. 101 - "Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry
Potter.  Our new - celebrity."

PS p. 102 - 

"'Potter!' said Snape suddenly.  'What would I
get if I added powered root of asphodel to an
infusion of wormwood?'  <snip text> 'I don't
know, sir,' said Harry.  Snape's lip curled into
a sneer.  'Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't
everything.'"

Another question and another I don't know answer
leads to 

"'Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming,
eh, Potter?'  Harry forced himself to keep
looking straight into those cold eyes.  He had
looked through his books at the Dursleys', but
did Snape expect him to remember everything in
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?"

Snape hasn't done much to earn any respect and
done lots to lose it.  It's also been my
experience that you get what you give.  Snape
gives no respect and gets none in return.

As for Dumbledore awarding ridiculous points, I
don't see them as ridiculous.  He awarded HRH the
points in PS for doing what the teachers couldn't
- keeping Voldemort from getting the Philospher's
Stone.  I think that was a pretty significant
thing to do.  As for CoS, well, gee, they found
the Chamber of Secrets, killed the basilisk and
saved Ginny Weasley.  Hermione didn't get any
points, Harry and Ron did.  Hmm, you would have
awarded maybe 10 points for that?  Again, they
did what the teachers couldn't do and because
they did it, Hogwarts didn't have to close.  No,
I don't see the points as ridiculous at all.

Lynn






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