Draco and Slytherin House and Snape and Harry and Neville

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121379


Alla:
 
Sorry, Pippin, I am not clear on what are you saying. Are you 
saying  that it will be better if Snape left Harry alone and 
concentrated on  Draco, since he needs his attention more and 
would benefit from his  guidance AND Draco is willing to receive 
guidance from Snape?
 
Because if you are saying all that, I am wholeheartedly agree. I 
also think that Snape SHOULD leave Harry alone (could he do 
the same  to Neville, please)? :o)<
 
Pippin:

Yes and no. It would be much better for Draco, and it would also 
be better for Harry and Neville in the sense that their  lives would 
be a little easier, and their potion-making skills might improve 
more quickly.  If that's your priority, then yes.

OTOH, Harry and Neville are the prophecy children. It doesn't 
matter if  the prophecy is a load of hooey. Unfortunately 
Voldemort believes it, and his opinion is the one that matters. If 
they can't weather adult malice without succumbing to temper or 
fear,  their chances of survival are not good. Voldemort is not 
going to wait until they have the proper mindset to resist his 
atttacks.  Snape is their training ground. If you want Harry and 
Neville to live, then I'm afraid they're  going to have to suffer.
 
I think, though, that the balance is shifting and Snape is about to 
suffer more from Harry's animus than vice versa.


Alla:

Ummm, I am not convinced that Snape their training ground AT ALL. At 
best I can call him "unwilling training ground", but that is just me 
of course.

And frankly, I think Harry and Neville have MUCH better chance of 
survival getting their training from someone they trust and from 
someone who is WILLING to train them. Failed attempts at Occlumency 
is the best proof of that, IMO.


Hey, I can always hope that Dumbledore will finally decide to train 
them. 

I definitely want them to survive, absolutely, but if for that they 
have to endure day to day Snape's sadism, I am wondering if the price 
for such survival will not be too high.
I do believe though that JKR differs with me on this one.

And if you are right and Snape is about to suffer from Harry's 
animus, I am going to be VERY happy reader. Because I thing that such 
course of events is long overdue. 

But allow me to doubt that this is going to happen. I believe that 
Harry will be "mastering his emotions" as JKR said and eventually 
forgive Snape at the end.

As to Snape, I can see him dying to save Harry thus achieving his 
redemption, I can also see him living and acknowledging Harry for who 
he is eventually. 

But going back to Draco for a second. I know we never see Snape 
communicating with Slytherins in the dungeons, but do you think Snape 
ever tried to reach him at all?

Just my opinion,

Alla