Snape and Harry again.

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 113925

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kethryn" <kethryn at w...> wrote:
> With all due respect, I think it's my turn to disagree with you on 
this (and I'm
> a new person so be gentle <grins>).  I don't think that when Harry 
told him that Padfoot
> was in trouble, Snape had any options or any time to think of 
other options. 

snip.

> 2.  I think that slapping people's ego's down when they deserve it 
is a good thing.  Think about it,
> why did DD insist that Harry be brought up away from all of the 
WW...to keep his ego at a
> managable level.  


Alla:

Welcome, Kethryn!

Yes, I think I agree with you that Snape could not let Harry know 
that he got his message, although he is a smart man, maybe he could 
have come up with something. I don't hold that against him though, I 
realise that he was in a very tough spot with Umbridge.

In regard to your next point - please, please, don't think that I am 
picking up on you, please feel free to disagree as much as you can, 
but I think that if I hear again "slapping Harry's ego down" as 
justification of Snape's abuse of him, I am going to bang my head 
against the wall. :o)

Harry did not have ANY ego to be slapped down,when Snape attacked 
him on the first lesson.

Harry did not have any ego to be slapped down, when Snape kept 
reminding him how bad his dead father was.

Harry did not have any ego to be slapped down, when in GOF he tried 
to find Dumbledore to tell him about Moody and Snape kept mocking 
him instead, etc.,etc.

  Harry is being angry in OOP (and often undeservingly) was so not 
the equivalent of swallen ego, but normal adolescent reaction at 
being fed up of people keeping him in the dark, IMO.

I am also wondering why Dumbledore's decision to keep Harry with 
Dursleys is cited as the example to "slap Harry's ego down" . True, 
In PS/SS Dumbledore says that he wants Harry to grew up away from 
all the publicity, but I don't think that this is the direct 
equivalent of "slapping his ego down"

In his speech in OOP Dumbledore cites as a main reason of leaving 
Harry with Dursleys desire to keep him safe "My priority was to keep 
you alive" - OOP, p.835, paperback.

I dislike that decision immensely, but what if indeed that was the 
safest place for Harry? You know, picking the lesser evil?

Dumbledore says "You were not a pampered little prince, but as 
normal a boy as I could have hoped under circumstances."-OOP, p.837,
Have you ever read this quote as a support that Dumbledore was 
afraid that Harry would grow up a pampered little prince?


Because I always read it as Dumbledore regret' that Harry did NOT 
grew up a pampered little prince, but at least was as normal as 
possible under bad circumstances.

So, I am afraid I fail to see the parallels between Dumbledore's and 
Snape's actions.

Alla