Harry learning from Snape (was: stopper death)

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 114582


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dzeytoun" <dzeytoun at c...> 
wrote:

Renee: 
>> > 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'.

Dzeytoun:  
> I agree that should and will are very different things.  I also 
agree 
> that, in actual fact, what we are likely to see is more of the 
same, 
> with Harry perhaps becoming somewhat more controlled, although 
also 
> more hate-filled, and Snape growing a degree or two nastier.  
> 
> In other words, if I had to bet on what will *actually* appear in 
the 
> next two books, I would say we will see a kind of fierce Cold War 
> between the two of them, occasionally showing some smoldering heat 
as 
> Snape pours on the nastiness and Harry can't resist taking 
advantage 
> of opportunities here and there to push Snape's buttons 
> (e.g. "Complaining again, Potter?"  "Sorry,Professor, I didn't 
mean 
> to snivel.")

Renee:
On the one hand, I'd love to see such a Cold War, to see Harry 
taunting Snape by being politely snarky. On the other hand, there's 
a catch to this. In the initial stages of such a conflict, Snape's 
reaction will probably be to punish Harry and unfortunately one of 
the punishments he has at his disposal isn't just personal: he can 
dock house points. And he will. Which means Harry will be fighting 
Snape at the cost of all the other Gryffindors. 

True, this has hardly stopped him before, but one of the aspects of 
growing up is getting less self-centered and taking other people's 
well-being into account. Engaging in a cold war with Snape while 
disregarding the consequences to his fellow housemates may run 
counter to Harry's maturing process. So I think he can only fight 
Snape effectively if he manages to convince the other Gryffindors 
that they, too, will ultimately benefit from it - which will only be 
the case if Harry can make Snape change his nasty ways.

If he can do this, he'll also show his capacity for leadership. If 
he doesn't dwell on how his behaviour will affect his housemates, 
this strategy may only lead to the next spectacular failure. As 
other people have pointed out, there's more at stake than just a 
student's conflict with an abusive teacher.   

Renee