How should Harry deal with Snape?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 107728

> Kyntor previously:
> >> And of course all the bad feelings between Harry and Snape is
> completely Harry's fault. Snape has no culpability at all. <<
> 
> HunterGreen:
> Of course not. I don't think anyone would try to make *that* case. 
> Clearly the *start* of the Harry/Snape rift is Snape's fault, he 
set 
> that down quite firmly in the first potions class, but since then 
> (five years later now), both of them are involved in the bad 
> feelings. Snape has his sarcasm and his unfair classroom politics, 
> and Harry has his not following rules, and occasionally not paying 
> attention in class or talking back.


Alla:

You are right, not many people argued that the start of Harry/Snape 
relationship was Harry's fault, although few do. BUT many , many 
people argue that even though Snape started all that, Harry should 
suddenly realise that Snape is a  good guy.

They are both involved in "bad feelings", because Snape made sure 
that Harry has those bad feelings towards him from the beginning.

As Neri said , Harry is a Gryff and a hero, so I have no doubt that 
he will forgive Snape eventually, but I see his fault in this 
relationship as being minimal (except looking in the Pensieve of 
course, but event hat as I said many times, I understand perfectly)


Kyntor:
> >> You do not stop bullies by giving into them, you stop them by
> standing up to them. Letting them have their way just reinforces
> their behavior. <<


Huntergreen 
> Perhaps in the case of a pure schoolyard bully, but that's not what 
> Snape is, now is he? Actually, I'll go so far as to say standing up 
> for yourself doesn't always work (personal experience here - it can 
> just goad them). The other 'wisdom' about bullies is to stop them 
by 
> *ignoring* them. In the case of Harry and Snape, Harry "standing up 
> for himself" would appear as disrespect and insolence in Snape's 
> eyes. They are not peers or equals, Harry can't just talk back when 
> Snape insults him, it doesn't work that way. (even in the cases 
where 
> he has stood up for himself -- in PoA for example -- Snape always 
has 
> an answer anyway, doesn't work at all). 
> However, if Harry were to both ignore Snape (as in, not rise to his 
> bait), and not GIVE him a reason to needle him (such as not working 
> hard in class, or lying or blatently ignoring school rules), Snape 
> would perhaps get bored and give up. This could actually help Harry 
> out even if it *doesn't* get Snape to stop or change his behavior. 
If 
> he just ignores Snape, then maybe Snape won't annoy him so much, 
even 
> if he is still dripping with sarcasm, and trying to get at Harry.



Alla:

Oh, no, I disagree. As I said previously, I firmly believe that 
nothing will help Harry, no matter how much he tries to change his 
behaviour, untill Snape realises that Harry is not James.

Therefore, I will be extremely dissapointed, if Harry stops standing 
up for himself. The fact that Snape is his superiour and a bully is 
twice as worse. I don't want Harry to take undeserved insults from 
Snape and just swallow them.

If nothing else, it is good for his character not to be as submissive 
as Neville is in his interactions  with Snape. Hopefully, after OOP, 
Neville will not be either.