Harry learning from Snape (was: stopper death)

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 114574


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scoutmom21113" 
<navarro198 at h...> wrote:
> 
> Dzeytoun:
> Snape can off course respond with detentions and taking points, 
but 
> if Harry continues his attitude of contempt and makes it clear 
that 
> he will not be cowed, what's Snape going to do?
> 
> <snip>
> 
> Another excellent technique (it has worked for me on multiple 
> occasions) is to treat Snape like an errant child and refuse to 
> acknowledge that he is speaking unless he uses at least minimally 
> polite language.
> 
> Bookworm:
> Your suggestions are appropriate for two adults.  For a 
> child/student to *show* contempt for a teacher or to ignore him is 
> disrespectful and the teacher would be within his rights to 
> discipline him.  
> 
> A better approach, IMO, would be for Harry to be *very* 
respectfully 
> polite no matter what Snape says or does.  If he can maintain that 
> attitude, then he would have truly developed some maturity in 
> dealing with Snape.
> 
> Dzeytoun:
> I would also add that Harry seems to be developing just this sort 
of 
> attitude in his final confrontation with Snape at the end of OOTP. 
> To wit:
> 
> "Potter, what are you doing?"
> 
> "Trying to decide which hex to use of Malfoy, sir," Harry replied 
> coldly.
> 
> To which Snape is momentarily at a loss for words.
> 
> Bookworm:
> I did not read that as contempt toward Snape.  The cold attitude 
was 
> directed at Malfoy.  Harry was very matter-of-fact with Snape 
which 
> is why Snape was at a loss.  Also, he is used to seeing Harry 
hotly 
> angry instead of coldly furious.  The whole tenor of Harry's and 
> Draco's attitudes toward each other shifted in this scene.
> 
> Ravenclaw Bookworm

Renee:
(a bit late, but it's hard to keep up with the many posts!)
Eh, I don't know which edition you are reading, but mine - the UK 
hardback edition of 2003 - has a slightly different text:

"What are you doing, Potter," said Snape, as coldly as ever. (...)
"I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir, said Harry 
fiercely."
Snape stared at him.
"Put that wand away at once," he said curtly. 


So it's Snape who speaks coldly, not Harry, who reacts more or less 
like he usually does. I'm not sure Snape is at a loss for words 
either; for all I know the staring is part of his intimidation 
tactics. And Dzeytoun, while Harry's answer is straightforward 
enough, he answers the question prompty and addresses Snape 
as 'sir'. So, while showing he won't be cowed, he remains polite. 

Regardless of what the various posters on this list think Harry 
*should* do regarding Snape, it's still JKR who'll decide what he 
*will* do. And looking at this exchange, my bet would be 'undaunted 
yet correct'. 

Renee
(who thinks the OotP quote is a prime example of JKR's adverbitis)