Two scenes for most everyone (was Re: Retribution for Snape the Teacher)

[colebiancardi]

No: HPFGUIDX 144060

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> wrote:
 
> 
> Absolutely and completely.  To allow Snape to go unpunished for his 
> child abuse (and it IS child abuse) would be reprehensible beyond 
> belief.  However, I don't think it's necessarily true that this 
> cannot be done in a manner that does not satisfy most everyone on
all sides without taking an undue amount of time.  I offer two scenes
that would do the trick.
> 
> SCENE ONE
> 
> (Snape has returned to the Order and claimed to be DDM.  He offers a 
> plausible tale, but does not reveal DD's reason for trusting him to 
> start with.  Harry refuses to believe him.  In this scene ####
stands for someone other than Harry speaking for the Order, it could
be Lupin, Moody, Minerva, or whoever).
> 
> SNAPE:  Precious Potter doesn't believe me, does he?
> ####:  Surely you don't think he should, Severus.
> SNAPE:  I have explained...
> ####:  You have spent seven years being vicious, cruel, childish and 
> brutal.  How do you expect anyone to react?
> SNAPE:  If you are talking about me trying to teach that arrogant...
> ####:  I am.  You have behaved in a manner that brings all wizards
to shame, not to mention all teachers.
> SNAPE:  Dumbledore...
> ####:  Is gone.  Whatever his reasons for putting up with you, they 
> don't matter now.
> SNAPE:  Dumbledore trusted me enough to teach the arrogant brat 
> Occlumency!
> ####:  And look how that came out.  You let your childish grudge 
> interfere with one of the most important tasks you had ever been 
> given!
> SNAPE:  Dumbledore trusted me!
> ####:  So he always said when any of us complained about you. 
Reveal his reasons, and we will consider them.
> (Snape reveals Dumbledore's reasons.  #### takes him into another 
> room, where shouting can be heard.  They return.)
> SNAPE (looking like he's taken poison):  Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, 
> I... if.... uh.... please... accept my .... (looks sick) apologies.
> 
> SCENE TWO:
> 
> (Snape is DDM.  Voldy is defeated.  Harry, Snape, and Minerva are in 
> the Head's office after all is said and done).
> 
> SNAPE:  I will be in my rooms.
> MINERVA:  Pardon me, Mister Snape, what rooms are those?
> SNAPE:  My professor's rooms, Headmistress.
> MINERVA:  You are not a Hogwarts Professor, Mister Snape.
> SNAPE:  Slughorn is staying, I know.  But DADA...
> MINERVA:  Is open.  Why are you presuming I would ask you to fill
the position?
> SNAPE:  But who...
> MINERVA:  I rather thought of offering the position to Mister
Potter, here.
> SNAPE:  But I....
> MINERVA:  Was instrumental in bringing about the fall of Voldemort.  
> But Mister Potter actually defeated the Dark Lord.  Who would be 
> better to teach young wizards and witches than that?
> SNAPE:  I have taught at Hogwarts for sixteen years!
> MINERVA:  Taught?  You have imparted information efficiently, I 
> admit.  You have also been childish, cruel, and stupidly 
> irresponsible in your behavior.
> SNAPE:  Dumbledore was satisfied with my methods!
> MINERVA:  Albus doubtless had his reasons for putting up with your 
> antics.  But Albus is gone.  I am Head now, and I do not choose to 
> extend you the same leniency.
> SNAPE:  This is all about Gryffindor!
> MINERVA (sighing):  Everything is about Gryffindor to you, isn't it 
> Severus?  You have never been able to put your grudges away, not
even after all these years, not even after everything!
> SNAPE:  I demand my rightful rewards!
> MINERVA:  I will determine what your rightful rewards are at 
> Hogwarts, Mister Snape.  And a teaching position are not among them.
> SNAPE(flushed and pale):  Where am I supposed to go?
> MINERVA(sighing again):  You may stay in guest rooms until you 
> determine that, Severus.  But you must be gone by the start of term 
> in the fall.
> SNAPE: But where....
> MINERVA (briskly): That is for you to determine, Mister Snape.  I am 
> sure everyone at Hogwarts will help you as much as we can.  Now, if 
> you will excuse us, Mister Potter and I must talk a little about the 
> formalities of his taking over the DADA position.
> SNAPE:  But....
> MINERVA (firmly): Goodbye, Mister Snape.
> 
> END SCENE
> 
> There.  Neither of those scenes would take much more than a couple
of pages, and either could fit nicely into the final book without 
> constituting a diversion or a "bump" in the narrative.  Furthermore, 
> I think either would satisfy almost everyone.  They are short and to 
> the point, fitting into the flow of the final book as Miles and
Steve desire.  They provide karmic retribution and third party
intervention as Nora, Alla, and I desire.  And they even allow for a
DDM!Snape. The last even allows for Snape to survive the final book.
> 
> So, I don't think the nature of the final book in any way makes it 
> impossible for most of us to be more-or-less happy with Snape's
final place on the wheel of karma.
> 
> 
> Lupinlore

LOL.  For someone who complains that redemption for Snape is *cheesy*
and would be bad writing, those scenes outlined above are downright
laughable.  The WW in the HP books has never shown this type of
*punishment* for a wizard or witch that is sarcastic and frightening.
 Snape is supposed to be scary.  It is pretty amazing that other than
a few students(Harry and Neville), no one else is tormented by Snape's
teaching methods - in fact, he answers questions raised by other
Gryffindors without a problem.  So you think Snape is SO horrible as a
teacher, yet students managed to pass his class, which means he has a)
taught them something in the classes, b) he is a fair grader, despite
being the head of Slytherian(because it isn't just his house that
passes and matter of fact, he leaves behind students in his own house)
and c) not every student is terrified of Snape.

The only person that is truly scared of Snape is Neville, IMHO.  If
Harry was *so scared*, he would not be goofing off in Snape's class,
talking to Hermione & Ron when he should be paying attention - he
would not *talk back* to Snape(being cheeky) - and he would not be so
dismissive of Snape.   

Snape has never hit a student in class - he is sarcastic, but when
does being sarcastic equate to child abuse?  Really.  I grew up in an
abusive household, and trust me, sarcasism is not child abuse.  If
these were 5, 6, 7 year olds, yes, Snape's teaching methods leave a
bit to be desired.  But these are pre-teens and teenagers who say much
worse things to each other than Snape has ever mustered up in his
classroom.  Even McGongall has been sarcastic to her students in her
class.  

when we were introduced to Snape in PS/SS, Percy does not tell Harry
that Snape is a horrible teacher, an unfair teacher, a sarcastic git,
or that Snape is abusive.  All he states is that Quirrell looks
nervous because he is talking to Snape, teaches Potions(although,
according to Percy, Snape doesn't want to) and that Snape knows a lot
about the Dark Arts.   Ron, in the next chapter, states that Snape
favors Slytherins because he is HoH for them.  That is it.  Nothing
about abusive teaching methods.  

colebiancardi
(who wonders where is the canon that states Snape is a child-abuser
because he is sarcastic?)