Snape as DADA substitute (Was: Poor KnowItAll)

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 57015

Linda wrote:

 
That really wasn't Lupin's doing. The shape of the boggart
> was what Neville feared most, which happenes to be Snape. Lupin had 
> no control over the choice; for that matter neither did Neville. 
> Lupin did suggest how to make Neville's boggart comical, but if he 
> didn't Neville would have failed the lesson. Is he just supposed to 
> skip boggarts because of what someone in the class might be afraid 
> of? He didn't even know Neville well enough by that point to guess 
at 
> what his fear might have been. I don't think we can fault Lupin for 
> this one.
> 


Welllll... I think we CAN fault Lupin a bit, because he drew Neville 
out with a pretty good idea who his greatest fear would be. But I 
also think Snape got what was coming to him.

Remember, he insulted Neville, in front of the class, in front of the 
new teacher, saying, (paraphrasing) "Longbottom can't do anything 
without Miss Granger whispering in his ear."

Look, Neville is hopeless in Potions and Snape has the right, and 
responsibility, as his teacher, to push him harder. I don't think 
fear is an effective teaching tool, not in the long run.

But Neville is very good in Herbology and apparently not half-bad in 
Defense Against the Dark Arts, so Snape's warning to Lupin was just 
mean. Snape was, once again, out of line, in this case.

Darrin
-- Who among us hasn't imagined a teacher in a ridiculous outfit?