Accio 2005 press release: new Guest Speaker and Trial of Snape

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 128155


Alla:
<snip>But really, I think item number 4 is the strongest item in the 
indictment and I really hope he does NOT get off on this one, 
really. :-)
If I were  the prosecutor, I would call Neville as my star witness.<

Betsy:
Urg.  Really?  I honestly don't think Neville is that big of a 
wimp.  So Snape's a bit short with him, big friggin deal.  Does he 
have a scar permently etched into his hand?  Has Neville ever left 
an encounter with Snape bruised and bloody? Has Snape ever colluded 
with Neville's enemies in order to *kill* him?  Okay, sure, at one 
point in time Snape was the form of Neville's boggart - when the boy 
was THIRTEEN YEARS OLD!! I'm sure Neville has gotten over it by 
now.  If not, then Neville was never really fit to leave home in the 
first place.  It's a big scary world out there.  If a strict, no-
nonense teacher is enough to send Neville cowering under his bed, he 
should stay home with his grandma.
 
(Okay, so I was a bit harsh there, but "assult and battery"??!?  I 
mean, honestly.)


Alla:

Guilty, Betsy, you know he is. :-) On Items 1, 2 and 4 for sure and 
3 - well, lets' wait and see.

I will leave to others to defend the Neville, because really "strict 
and no- nonsense teacher" are SO not the words I would describe 
Snape, I just want to ask one thing.

How do you know that Snape is not Neville's biggest fear anymore?


By the way, who said that Neville is going to be my only witness?


Does throwing Harry out of his office rings any bells to you for 
example?

Do I have to count how many times Snape stands over Neville or Harry 
in the classroom in the threatening manner? OK, probably those are 
not enough for criminal prosecution in RL, but will do quite well in 
this one, IMO.

Here is the definition of assault fron on line dictionary.  I am not 
sure if it goes word by word with my Black Law dictionary ( do NOT do 
criminal law), but I seem to remember from my criminal law classes 
that threat of force can be enough to establish assault.


ASSAULT, crim. law. An assault is any unlawful attempt or offer with 
force or violence to do a corporal hurt to another, whether from 
malice or wantonness; for example, by striking at him or even holding 
up the fist at him in a threatening or insulting manner, or with 
other circumstances as denote at the time. an intention, coupled with 
a present ability, of actual violence against his person, as by 
pointing a weapon at him when he is within reach of it. 6 Rogers Rec: 
9. When the injury is actually inflicted, it amounts to a battery. 
(q.v.) 

I especially love the part "or even holding up the fist at him in a 
threatening or insulting manner".



Just my opinion of course,

Alla