Snape--Abusive?

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 114672


Alex wrote:
<snip some>
What has Snape done?  He's asked Harry questions he wouldn't 
reasonably be expected to know the answers to in his first week of 
school.  He's capriciously graded a couple of his assignments.  He's 
blamed Harry for incidents of classroom misconduct in which Harry 
was not the instigator or sole participant. These behaviors are all 
unprofessional and inapproriate, but I'm not sure I'd call them 
abusive.  (the capricious grading is what bothers me most, as a 
teacher.)
> 

Valky (interrupting): 
Me too about the grading but I am not a teacher.

Alex continues:
> If those who believe in abusive!Snape can present the case without
> going into a CAPSLOCK rage, I'd be interested in hearing it,
> particularly with reference to specific classroom (or other on-
page) incidents that I haven't thought of.  
>  
> Alex


Valky:
I am sorry, Alex. I can't really make the case that you have 
requested for you. I feel that Snape is borderline abusive in 
dealing with Harry and essentially I have agreed with the term on 
principle while part of this debate, in most of my posts you'll see 
I have inserted dumbed down synonyms where I might have put abusive.

Alex said:
What about Harry's reaction?  If he was crying himself to sleep on a
> regular basis, having horrible nightmares about potions class,
> becoming physically ill on days when he was supposed to have class
> with Snape, or otherwise showing signs of extreme stress or 
anxiety, then I'd consider assigning the label of "abuse" to Snape's 
behavior.  But he isn't. 

Valky: 
I agree with what you have said here Harry doesn't have these 
reactions to Snape but there is someone who does. Neville Longbottom.
Now I have been thinking on this for a little while now especially 
in terms of the longest debate that has been going on the past few 
days about Harry needing to stand his ground with Snape. My response 
to that you can read if you sift through the deluge and paraphrased 
it basically says that Harry has Snape beaten in spades already. 
Someone who hasn't though is Neville. Neville is still suffering and 
tormented by Snape. In POA we discover he has been deeply cut by 
Snapes cruelty toward him. Neville has no respect for Snape and 
Neville is the subject most abused by the evident *issues* Snape 
hasn't matured beyond. Therefore it is *Neville* who most needs to 
stand up and take back his personal power here and not Harry. 

In a recent part of the discussion I have contemplated with another 
poster a way that the Snape v Harry situation might play out in a 
classroom riot brought on by Snape going too far with Harry. I have 
been thinking about it for a while and I have realised that it is 
not Harry that Snape will go too far with but Neville. 
I have imagined a couple of scenarios and I will give you one just 
for the pleasure of it.

Snape is the seveth year DADA teacher, which means that he now 
operates to his great dismay in the DA shadow of Harry Potter. 
Snape is not getting the respect he had hoped would come with his 
DADA position and in some way tries to take it by making an example 
of Harry in front of the class. In the end of the scenario a 
menacing Snape stands over Harry pointing his wand and ranting 
threateningly some detached semi-DADA lecture about the power of the 
Dark Lord and this is where you'll be when you need to use DADA, 
when Neville finally enraged and beyond his limit with Snapes 
bullying jumps up and screams "leave him alone Professor..." Then 
Neville takes his magnificent stand against his greatest fear and 
inspires all sorts of amazement from his class mates.

What do you think?

Valky