Should Neville Stand or Sit in Defiance WAS Re: Snape

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 115316


>Valky (Re Neville standing up to Snape): 
> > > 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 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:
> 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. 

Valky:
Competence is not the deeper issue at all. Consider Crabbe and Goyle.
They make pretty awful disasters themselves and don't get picked on. 
Not to mention that Hermione, oops I am mentioning it, is far more 
than competent and it is her high level of competence that is the 
problem for Snape rather than a lack of it. 
 


Carol:
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."
> 

Valky:
Ahh but, Carol, you tar Neville with the wrong brush. 
Neville cannot confirm Snapes bad opinion of him for it is simply 
not in him to do so. Originally I posted that Nevilles defiance of 
Snape will constitute a defiance of Snapes preconceptions of 
weakness in Neville. Longbottom is stubbornly virtuous, his defiance 
won't be "uncharacteristic". And *that* will be its effectiveness.