What if other teachers behaved like Snape?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 101338

> 
> To me this comment makes an eloquent case for an argument I've 
tried to make many times before:  Snape's methods with Harry DO NOT 
WORK.  
> Who's to blame for that?  Both of them, in turns, though, yes, I 
> blame Snape more since he approached Harry w/ derisiveness & 
> loathing from the get-go *and* he's a teacher.  If Snape hadn't 
been  such an ass w/ Harry from the first moment, if he'd done 
ANYTHING to give Harry a sign that he actually had a concern for his 
well-being  or his success as a student, Harry might have been able 
to see all  Snape was doing.  
> 


Harry knows, though he seems skeptical, from D-Dore that Snape was 
trying to save him, but the reasons were: "so he could hate your 
father's memory in peace."

Yes, that would just FILL me with confidence, had I heard that. :)


> Really, though, that's another post.  What I wanted to bring up is 
> this question:  WHY is Lupin successful in reaching Harry, in 
> showing him how rashly and stupidly he was behaving, roaming around 
> the castle in the darkness when Sirius Black was on the loose?  
> Because Harry had already come to TRUST Lupin.  Lupin had been kind 
> to Harry; Lupin had complimented Harry's parents; Lupin had shown 
an interest in Harry.
> 

Both Lupin and Snape have been asked to give Harry extra lessons. It 
would not surprise me if D-Dore was made aware of, and approved of, 
the Dementor lessons in PoA. 

We see how both of those turned out.


> Whether it's "in him" or not for Snape to have shown any kind of 
> overt concern for Harry has been debated here ad nauseum.  He might 
> not be able to be truly kind to Harry--or INTERESTED in such a 
thing-> -but the fact that Harry LISTENS to Lupin when he's being 
> reprimanded and brought down a notch says something:  THIS is the 
> way to reach Harry.  


Snape's approach was to fall back on his old chestnut: "You arrogant 
little boy, can't you see what good I'm doing for you! Bow down 
before me!"

After three years of that, I'd be shocked if Harry was paying 
attention. And why should he? He's probably thinking, "Snape's going 
off on me again. Let's just nod my head until he stops yapping."

Lupin's approach was to hit Harry where he lived, with the death of 
his parents. Snape said, essentially, that Harry failed HIM, which is 
useless, since Harry could give a damn about Snape. But Lupin said 
that Harry failed his parents, which made Harry sick to his stomach.

Harry, like anyone, has people he cares about. Approach him through 
them, and you've got a winner.

Snape COULD get through to Harry if he analyzed the situation. Snape 
could easily have said, "Your parents died for you. Pity this is what 
they died for." (Man, I can hear that coming from his mouth)

Snape has hit Harry hard before, with comments about James.

Unfortunately, rational analysis flies out the window for Snape when 
he deals with Harry.

Darrin
-- had to respond to a screen name with Cubfan in it.