What drives WW ? (was Chapter 24: Occlumency)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 109093

Major Snippage
 
> Sigune:
snip
> ... and if  Dumbledore is the 'guardian of greatness', the man who 
sort of has the responsibility to make sure that every wizard and 
witch makes the best of their talents when passing through his 
school, and to guide  them in the right direction, then I think that 
explains why he is so strangely, and seemingly endlessly, tolerant 
of Snape.

Potioncat:
I think this idea explains a lot.  Harry and the reader meet Snape 
at one moment of time and follow him in brief snatches for 7 years. 
Seeing  him as a student sees  him.   But DD has known Snape for 
over 20 years. And he may have known Snape's parents as students as 
well.  DD knows this man far better than we do.  In fact, so do 
McGonagall, Flitwick and to lessor extents the other teachers.  So 
while we see a cruel teacher, they see a man who is sometimes sharp 
tongued to the students. But they know his good points, his battles, 
the person.  And just as many us can forgive James or Sirius their 
faults, DD, MM and others can forgive Snape, his.

Sigune:
> 
> If the size of Snape's nose and the length of his fingers are 
> anything to go by, the Potions Master has great magical ability - 
> which, my sceptical self feels bound to add, apart from his 
obvious 
> expertise in potion making, we have not witnessed yet. 
snip
 I feel that Dumbledore  is very much guiding Snape and setting him 
challenges - the  Occlumency lessons, for example, were meant to be 
every bit as 'educational' for Snape as they were for Harry, but 
> unfortunately /both/ failed miserably. Poor Dumbledore. It's 
lonely  at the top.

Potioncat:
This makes a lot of sense.  Snape is just as much one of DD's 
students as Harry is and as James was.