Should Neville Stand or Sit in Defiance WAS Re: Snape

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 115328


Carol wrote:
> 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 replied:
>>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.<<

HunterGreen:
Snape doesn't work fairly. He doesn't pick on *everyone* who is 
incompetent, but if Neville suddenly started doing fine in class, he 
would have no reason to bully him (its the same solution people are 
suggesting with Harry: he stops breaking rules and talking back 
around Snape, and doesn't rise to Snape's bait and Snape will -- in 
theory -- stop bothering him so much. Ideally, Snape wouldn't be 
acting like this, but Neville and Harry are more likely to change 
than him). 
As for Hermione, although her penchant for *always* knowing the 
answer competes with his superiority fix, he gives her trouble when 
she speaks out of turn, not when she simply does her potion 
correctly, or hands in a correct paper. Yes, its unfair for him to 
not call on her when she knows the answer (and is raising her hand), 
but *many* RL teachers do this on occasion when they have one student 
dominating the class (even Lupin does it in his own way). 

When it comes to Neville, I have to agree with Carol in this 
situation, I can't see him being the type to defy a teacher, nor do I 
think it would be appropriate. However, a scene where Neville stands 
up to Snape (beyond the Boggart!Snape scene in PoA), would be 
interesting, and good for him. I think it would work better if it 
happened in a non-classroom scene (however, Snape has little reason 
to bully Neville beyond potions class).