[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape and Lupin's Character Arcs (was: Lupin's Char Arc)

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 119327


--- nrenka <nrenka at yahoo.com> wrote:
 
> Snape in DADA there is not exactly a model of good teaching,
> though.  
> It's true that he's not narrowed in on Harry, but he does treat 
> Hermione nastily (it's eminently possible to get someone to be
> quiet 
> without doing it the way he does, after all), probably because the 
> goal of his class is to expose Lupin.


The goal of that class was to give the students the information
they'd need to identify a werewolf - which might be necessary to save
their lives.  As Lupin says in the Shrieking Shack, he set that essay
assignment because he knew that Hermione would do it (who else would
actually do an essay assigned by a substitute teacher except Miss
Super-Student?).

And why would Snape want Hermione to do the essay?  Because she's one
of Harry Potter's best friends - Harry Potter who Snape already found
alone with Lupin - just before Sirius Black got into the castle and
attacked the Fat Lady with a knife.  

So as far as Snape is concerned, the old friendship between Lupin and
Black means more to Lupin than Dumbledore's trust and James Potter's
son's security.  So the more info Harry has, the safer he will be.

I find the idea that Snape's only goal was to out Lupin to be not
realistic.  Had he wanted that, there were all kinds of ways he could
have made it happen, like being "accidently" overheard by any number
of Slytherin kids or by diluting the wolfsbane potion so that it was
ineffective ("or was that a FULL cup of newts' toes instead?  Darn
this fading ink!")  What Snape was actually doing was much funnier -
staying within the guidelines set down by Dumbledore about how to
treat Lupin, he was bending the rules as far as he could without
breaking them.  I thought it was wonderful dark comedy.

Magda


		
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