Snape

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 115159



> > happy relief. Maybe it will simply lead to Snape dropping one of 
> his 
> > guards and revealing a little more of his true self to us. 
dzeytoun wrote:
> I would agree with this if Snape's projection were a *conscious* 
process -- i.e. if he were thinking,"this boy is too much like me for
his own good, I have to fix that."  However, projection is an 
*unconscious* process.  Therefore I'm not sure that defying 
projection and expectation, even in a positive way, would ncessarily
provoke such a positive response as "tears of joy" or "wry relief."  I
am more inclined to think it would create confusion - which would 
fall under your definition of something we haven't seen before.  That
 is, I can readily see defiance from Neville at least momentarily 
leaving Snape afloat and not knowing what to do.  That can then lead 
in at least two directions.  It could undermine Snape's assumptions 
and easy confidence that he knows what he's doing, opening the way to
change.  Or, in that having your assumptions challenged is an acutely
painful process, it could simply lead to a massive negative reaction
creating a downward spiral in Snape's behavior.
> 
> Either way, it would be interesting and extremely amusing to see.

Carol responds:
To begin with, I'm wholly unable to imagine Neville defying any
teacher and I can't think of any form of defiance of a teacher by a
pupil which would be considered appropriate within the WW. It would be
much better for Neville, IMO, simply to demonstrate competence in
Snape's class (in the unlikely event that he finds himself in NEWT
Potions). Follow directions, don't cringe or tremble, don't melt your
cauldron, and you won't get picked on. But assuming that Neville were
to talk back to Snape or refuse to follow directions or some other
uncharacteristic behavior that could serve no purpose except to annoy
Snape and confirm his bad opinion of Neville, I can easily picture
Snape's reaction. No tears, no wry grin, no confusion--just a cold,
blank stare and a silky "Ten points from Gryffindor, Longbottom. And
if you speak again, it will be detention."

Carol