How should Harry deal with Snape?

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 107678

Neri originally wrote:
> OK, we are all here much wiser than Harry, and if we were in
his place, we would have known EXACTLY how to deal with
Snape. <snip>
> Does anybody have an idea, how should Harry deal with
Snape?<

Pippin answered:
Well, he should stop lying and sassing back, because that is the
behavior that Snape interprets as arrogant. *We* know Harry only
does it because he's insecure and frightened of Snape, and the
more Snape insults him and accuses him, the more insecure
and frightened Harry becomes. But Snape doesn't dig that, and
maybe never will.

It doesn't really matter whether the core reason for that
misunderstanding is rage, social ineptitude, prejudice or sheer
cussedness--whatever it is, Harry didn't make Snape the way he
is and isn't responsible for making him change the way he
thinks -- on the other hand he can, by modifying his own
behavior, hope to change the tenor of their interactions.

Neri again:
At last someone with concrete suggestions!

Pippin:
Harry made a start at this at the end of OOP, when he freely
admitted he was about to curse Malfoy instead of lying about it.

Neri:
Actually, Harry WAS lying just then, and also cussing back and 
behaving just like James. The truth (in the proper tone of respect) 
would have been: "I apologize, Professor. They tried to curse me 
because I exposed their DE fathers but I drew first. I'm glad you 
arrived at the scene to prevent any violence, Sir". I wonder what 
would this answer have achieved.

Pippin:
And nothing very terrible happened, did it? He lost a few points.
The worst that could have happened was a detention, and
Snape's detentions, while not much fun, are certainly not in a
class with Umbridge's.

Neri:
I see. So the best that Harry can hope for if he learns how to handle 
Snape is just losing points and getting detentions. It's not a very 
attractive offer, you know.

Pippin:
Now, if only, the next time Snape insults him, Harry could bring
himself to say "You could be right about that, Sir." I've stopped
bullying bosses in their tracks with that one.

Neri:
I'd strongly advice not to use the word "could". I shudder to think 
what Snape would have to say about Harry allowing that he "could" be 
right.

Pippin:
Of course it probably won't happen next time, because the Harry
Snape conflict won't be resolved until Book Seven. But as Jim
has challenged us to imagine how it would come about, here's
my guess.

Harry knows that lying, sassing back, and matching insults aren't
constructive behaviors, but his attitude right now is "I only have to
behave myself if Snape does." What could convince him to go
the extra mile?

JKR has said that Harry's glasses are the key to his
vulnerability. What would happen if Harry lost his glasses at
some critical moment and had, not only to trust Snape, but to
avoid the behaviors that have confirmed Snape's poor opinion of
him?


Neri:
Tell me sincerely, if you were in a very vulnerable position, 
together with a person who had already took advantage of your 
vulnerabilities several times in the past (and the vulnerabilities of 
several of your best friends as well), would you trust him?

OTOH, Harry is not like the rest of us. He is a Gryffindor and a 
hero, so he might just be crazy enough to do what you suggest. There 
is still hope.

Neri