Hermione and Snape/Definition of Snape-like teacher

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 128336

> Pippin:
> Oh, that's easy. He treats her as a capable student by *not* calling
> on her in class. Snape's not interested in the students who know
the  answers, he's interested in the ones who don't. If she had a weak  
area in potions, he would doubtless point it out to her with the 
 usual smirk. <
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Hmmm, I think you actually proved my point, sort of. :-) Snape is 
> not interested in the students who know the answers, correct? So, 
> how exactly this is a good environment for gifted child, if teacher 
> is not interested in her? 

Pippin:
Because often the best thing a teacher can do for a gifted child
is to stay the !@#$ out of her way and not put any additional 
pressure on her. McGonagall fulfills the first part but not the
second.

Remember the time turner? Remember who Hermione's boggart is?

There'd be even more pressure on Hermione to have the right answer
when called on in potions with a chorus of Slytherins ready to 
pounce and snigger if she got anything wrong. 

> Alla:
> 
> I see absolutely no rudeness in Harry answers. I think he was 
> honestly telling Snape that Hermione knows better than him.

Pippin:
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though,
why don't you ask her."
A few people laughed. Harry caught Seamus's eye and Seamus 
winked.

If  Harry had no idea he was insulting  Snape (and Hermione!)
I think he'd have  been puzzled about why  people laughed and 
Seamus winked.


> Alla:
> 
> To see the straight line between Harry and grudge, it is enough for 
 me to remember Dumbledore's " some wounds run too deep for
healing",  and Dumbledore's acknowledgement that it was wrong of 
him to make  Snape teach Harry Occlumency.

Pippin:
To me, Dumbledore is saying that Snape could not bear to know that
Harry had witnessed his humiliation at the hands of James. That
wound has not healed.  And that  the lessons were also a mistake 
because Harry did not trust Snape. That Harry does not trust
Snape has something to do with the way Snape treats him, but
also with Harry's general feelings about Slytherins--or can you
name a Slytherin that Harry trusts?

Alla:
> Honestly, call it oversimplification if you'd like, but to me it is 
 very simple. Snape is so consumed by his hatred for James that he
is  uncapable of seeing that James' son is not his carboon copy.

Pippin:
Perfectly plausible, except that I am suspicious when JKR makes
things too easy for us, especially when it is only Book Five.

Alla:
> I am also confused by your last sentence. Snape did not really 
> picked on Harry by vanishing his potion because nobody else turned 
> it in for testing? Sorry, you lost me here.


Pippin:
Harry assumes that he is the only one who is going to get a zero,
because the others are allowed to turn their potions in. But Snape
says he is going to test them, so if the others are completely
worthless, they  will get zero too. 

Pippin