What if other teachers behaved like Snape?

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 101133

Kneasy wrote:
<snip>
Snape doesn't hate Harry IMO. He doesn't like him much, thinks he 
needs
taking down a peg or two, but hate? I doubt it.

Kneasy also wrote in #101080:

Snape's loyal all right, but loyal to what?
<snip>
What he does seem to be loyal to is the plan
to destroy Voldemort. That over-rides everything else and this is 
probably
what DD understands - Snape can be trusted in this, he is committed to
the downfall of Voldy, he will do what is necessary, he will 
cooperate fully.


Neri now:
Kneasy, your analysis of Snape has a slight consistency problem. If 
Snape doesn't hate Harry that much, and all the Harry-goading in the 
books is just the DD/Snape double act, why couldn't Snape realize 
that his usual teaching method doesn't work for the Occlumency 
lessons? If destroying LV is his top priority, couldn't he just 
<gasp> try a different approach? Just, say, going for less painful 
memories at start and <double gasp> grant a small praise here and 
there? Very extreme, I know, but it's for the cause, after all. Or 
didn't DD tell him how important are the Occlumency lessons for 
defeating LV? In that case, maybe DD doesn't trust Snape all that 
much after all?

Here is DD's analysis of Snape. You might say this is just more 
double act, but I find it more consistent with the facts:

"I trust Severus Snape, but I forgot — another old man's mistake — 
that some wounds run too deep for the healing. I thought Professor 
Snape could overcome his feelings about your father — I was wrong."

Why is Snape failing to overcome his feelings about James relevant 
for teaching Harry Occlumency? Do you have an explanation other than 
the obvious one?

I agree that Snape is a very complex and interesting character. I 
agree he is (for some unknown reason) loyal to the plan to destroy 
LV. I also think he is very emotional and he hates Harry's guts. This 
is exactly what makes him so interesting for the story.

Neri