Snape, Harry, Dumbledore, and flaws in the books

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 105989

Rebecca :
> 
> But that was quite a different situation. In fact as dire as it 
> comes, involving life and death. This is only hurt feelings in a 
> potions class. As long as the children are still learning and none 
of 
> them are getting *seriously* affected by his snide remarks there's 
no 
> reason for Dumbledore to impose his will upon Snape.

Finwitch:
Neville seems to be seriously affected - enough to lose control of 
his magic, I think. Neville's problem in Snape's class is Snape (and 
his fear of SS); his problem in Charms/Transfiguration has been 
control (which, I believe, had to do with the fact that he was using 
his father's wand rather than one that chose him. Sure, Ron could use 
Charlie's - but I suppose Charlie might have given it to his little 
brother himself (willingly) unlike poor Frank who was in no condition 
to give his wand to anyone...). He's good at Herbology (no snape, no 
wand, calm environment)...

Rebecca: 
 
> Lucious Malfoy is quite fond of him, and I doubt he would be if he 
> thought Snape was doing a horrible job teaching his son. And Draco 
> likes him quite a bit as well, even wanted him to be headmaster 
> during CoS. Also, Umbridge points out how advanced the class is, 
and 
> that's the only critisizm she can find.

Finwitch comments:

Snape's not nasty at Draco, is he? Or Slytherins for that matter? 
Mostly, he takes his own grudge from decades back on Harry and 
(occasionally) on Neville.

Rebecca:
> I know she's not the best 
> judge of teaching methods, but she is a representative of the MoM. 
> Actually, the fact that her classes are almost as snide as Snape's 
> (and she would be the one who'd know about approved teaching 
> methods), is an indication that Snape's methods are at least 
allowed, 
> if not favored.

Finwitch:
Yes, well - and HER methods are more methods to prevent learning than 
teaching! I mean really, it's nothing but repeat "rose is a flower" 
over and over again with no meaning! Her method might suit for 
children who are 5-7 years old - not for children 11, and certainly 
not at puberty with students at the age of 15!

Binns is not a teacher but a BORING ghost of a lecturer...
 
Rebecca:
 
> But was that Snape's fault or Harry's fault? Remember, Lupin used a 
> similar teaching method when he taught Harry the patronus charm, he 
> was just nicer about it. He told Harry the incantation, told him 
how 
> to do it (focus on a happy memory), and let the boggart turn into 
the 
> dementer over and over again until Harry was finally able to do it.


Big difference: Lupin suggested that Harry might need rest, but it 
was Harry who WANTED to keep on. Adults ought to care for the 
younglings need of sleep! Lupin ended the lesson when Harry wanted to 
continue... because Harry was too tired.

Rebecca:
> Harry failed many times and got rather exhausted in the process. 
The 
> occulmency lessons were similar: there was no incantation involved, 
> so Snape told Harry how to do it (clearing your mind),

Finwitch;
I disagree. Snape told Harry to clear his mind, but he NEVER told him 
how to do that. In fact, I think Harry was unable to concentrate - to 
clear his mind. He was too tired due to lack of sleep and loss of 
blood (and that's Dumbridge's fault), and only way Harry managed to 
go on, was living on adrenaline until he finally fainted during OWL 
exam. He even told Snape he had trouble with that... (AND Snape was 
making it harder).

I also say that Dumbledore made a mistake in putting Snape to teach 
Harry that. Harry's dreams of that "door" began there. Snape reacts 
by telling Harry not to think of it (and that's the sort of order NO 
ONE can obey. You cannot stop thinking about something at order - 
what you'd need is distraction).

Further, not only were Snape's feelings and immaturity getting into 
the way of Harry's learning... I think Harry was right: Snape was 
making it _worse_. Regardless on which side Snape truly is, he _does_ 
have the mark of a Death Eater, a mark linked to Lord Voldemort. A 
mark he had (more or less) willingly accepted. Harry's scar is ALSO a 
link to Voldemort - a link that lets Harry know any of Voldemort's 
strong emotions as if he was Voldemort? (it DID happen once so that 
Harry saved Arthur Weasley, and so he almost attacked Dumbledore).

I think that, someone bearing Voldemort's mark makes this Legilimens-
contact on Harry, who ALSO has a link... well, I think Voldemort got 
involved - or at least, LV's obsession for the prophecy got trough 
first time, because Snape's Dark Mark strenghtened the signal. (I 
think this also happened when Harry's scar hurt during the first 
book, when Snape AND Quirrelmort were there (While Voldemort was 
hiding inside Quirrell's turban)! (And that rat...) The scar never 
hurt during Harry's DADA class, after all..

Harry was able to put down LV's hatred (which Dumbledore feared and 
thus avoided Harry) because well, Harry LIKES Dumbledore, nor would 
he ever willingly kill anyone, so it's easy to recognise as NOT his.

Harry wasn't, however, able to put down LV's obsession about the 
corridor - partly because he was *curious* about it (Albus' old 
error; he should have told Harry .. so Harry would have either not 
been curious or ASKED about it, rather than seeking out for 
himself...).

Finwitch