Does Snape really favor Draco? (Re: Occlumency: Relax or resist?)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 117746


Kristen <kgpopp at y...> wrote:
<Snip>

> So maybe Snape hopes to be a role model 
> for Draco.   You known, steer him away from the death eaters, teach 
> him to respect knowledge, to not be confined by your families 
> expectations.   


Well, this brings up a number of points.  This may be true of Snape, 
but if it is we have seen no evidence of it in Canon.

That brings up a further point in the whole "Why Dumbledore lets 
Snape act the way he does" debate.  One can argue that Snape is a 
good lesson for Gryffindors, and to a lesser extent Hufflepuffs and 
Ravenclaws, in dealing with difficult people.  But where does that 
leave the Slytherins?  Aren't they simply being reinforced in their 
belief that they are superior and should expect deferrence and 
favorable treatment simply because of who they are?  Isn't Snape 
abusing them in much the same way that JKR sees the Dursleys abusing 
Dudley (i.e. he is preparing them for a world that doesn't exist, and 
insuring a life of pain and disappointment)?

This of course brings up yet a further point about DD and the 
Slytherins.  Up to this point we see no evidence that DD or Snape 
tries to actively wean them away from the Death Eaters.  Now, it can 
be argued that realistically there is little DD can do, as he can't 
hope to successfully counteract the influence of their parents.  
Therefore maybe his attitude is to have Snape keep a watch on them 
and let the chips fall where they may.  If so, however, it means he 
has simply washed his hands of the whole house, viewing them as a 
lost cause.  

And, one might ask, even if DD did try to wean the Slytherins away, 
how could Snape cooperate without "blowing his cover?"  After all, 
DD's efforts could not be totally successful, and it would only take 
one recalcitrant Slythering complaining to his parents for Snape to 
be in very hot water indeed.  Does DD buy Snape's cover at the cost 
of losing the Slytherins to Voldemort?

Interesting questions.

Lupinlore