Why has DD never suggested Harry thank Snape?

[ms_luna_knows]

No: HPFGUIDX 116899


Lupinlore --

> We have argued back and forth about how Harry should regard Snape
and 
> why he should or should not have such a negative attitude toward
the 
> Potions Master.  I would argue that his negative opinion has been 
> tacitly confirmed by the person who, up until OOTP, he most trusts 
> and respects at Hogwarts, namely Dumbledore.  
> <snip>
> Now, why would Dumbledore do this?  I can think of two main reasons 
> off the top of my head, and they aren't mutually exclusive.  Note 
> that I am discounting the possibility of an evil or overtly 
> manipulative Dumbledore:
> 
> 1)  Dumbledore tolerates Snape in part because he thinks that 
> students should learn to deal with difficult people.  However, the 
> flip side of that is that he feels no obligation to shield Snape
from 
> the inevitable backlash and difficulties his attitudes engender.
<snip>
 
  He is trying to teach Snape a lesson as 
> much as he is trying to teach the students.
> 
> 2)  The message he is sending Harry is simply fact.  Snape really
is 
> a selfish/hateful individual who opposes Voldemort for his own 
> reasons and helps Harry only because he is obligated to do so.  
> Dumbledore wishes it were not so, but he must face reality and 
> understands that, although he trusts his Potions Master, Severus' 
> actions are motivated largely be self-interest and percieved 
> obligation, not higher morality.  Therefore he sees little reason
to 
> whitewash the situation by suggesting that Harry pretend to a 
> gratitude Harry does not feel and that Severus would not appreciate 
> and perhaps does not deserve (the last depends of course on one's
own 
> personal beliefs about what is deserving of gratitude).


My take on the whole DD/Snape thing, is much more simple.  I believe
that DD hired Snape 
because he "knows his stuff", he's the best potions master that DD
could find.  And even 
though Snape was a DE, for some reason, DD looks past that.  (that's
the true mystery 
here) DD may also have hired Snape as a teacher to maintain Snape's
'cover', or even to 
have a DE on staff, one he 'trusts' to help keep informed of LV's
movements or plans. (I 
believe that DD 'knew' LV would return and keeping Snape on staff  is
his way of being "in 
the loop") Snape being a mean and spiteful teacher is part of what DD
is having to 'accept' 
as having Snape on staff.  And Snape, even though he is mean to the
students, does come 
to their aid when necessary, more out of loyalty to DD than to some
"warm and fuzzy" 
feelings he may experience.   So, I don't see why DD would suggest
that Harry or anyone 
else show gratitude or apologize to Snape nor would he suggest that
Snape do the same 
(apologize to Harry for refusing to  continue  Occulmency lessons).
DD seems to keep out 
of how people treat one another.  It's like he wants them to work it
out for themselves. I don't believe DD is trying to teach anyone a lesson in getting along.

I know there is much more to this and more I want to say, but trying
to type fast a furious 
while children are "busy"
Ms. Luna