Favorite Snape Scenes - He's such a lovely professor, no really.

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 122196


>>vmonte responds:
>Professor Snape was forcing them to research antidotes. They took 
this one seriously, as he had hinted that he might be poisoning one 
of them before Christmas to see if their antidote worked.<

Betsy:
Perfect example of Snape being a good teacher.  Nothing like a little 
motivation to get the students working! <eg>  And an example of Snape 
not being evil -- no one was actually poisoned.

>>vmonte:
<snip>
>Malfoy got Hermione!" Ron said. "Look!" 
>He forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth—she was doing her best to 
hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as they had now 
grown down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherin 
girls were doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at Hermione from 
behind Snape's back. 

Betsy:
Proof that Snape is not a nice man and that he does favor his House.  
Something I stated in my very first post. 

>>vmonte: 
>The more Snape treats these kids like garbage the less respect they 
are going to have for him. I admit though that the children are 
learning a great lesson here, although not about potions.<

Betsy:
I agree with you.  Snape is in no way earning Harry's respect, which 
could (and has) cause(d) problems when they have to work together.  I 
think Snape would agree with the "it's better to be feared than 
loved," philosophy of life.  I'm not saying Snape is right but I 
don't see how this makes Snape evil. 

>>vmonte: Even the bad guy knows...
<snip of Crouch!Moody interaction with Snape>

Betsy:
I'm not sure what your point is here.  Are you trying to say that 
Crouch, Jr. (who had a hand in crucioing Neville's parents into 
insanity) is a better man than Snape?  Or are you pointing to this 
part when Crouch!Moody says:

"Meaning that Dumbledore's very interested to know who's got it in 
for that boy!" said Moody, limping nearer still to the foot of the 
stairs. "And so am I, Snape... very interested..."

Because, as we later learn, it is actually Crouch!Moody himself who 
has it in for Harry, not Snape at all.

Or this part here?:
  
"I merely thought," said Snape, in a voice of forced calm, "that if 
Potter was wandering around after hours again ...it's an unfortunate 
habit of his ...he should be stopped. For—for his own safety." 
"Ah, I see," said Moody softly. "Got Potter's best interests at 
heart, have you?" 
There was a pause. Snape and Moody were still staring at each other, 
[...] 
"I think I will go back to bed," Snape said curtly. 
"Best idea you've had all night," said Moody.

Because, Snape actually does have Harry's safety at heart (something 
Crouch!Moody certainly does not).  Though I do think that Snape does 
enjoy catching Harry out.  It confirms all of Snape's worst 
expectations of Harry.  I have never argued that Snape has warm and 
fuzzy thoughts towards Harry.  But Snape doesn't want Harry dead. 

>>vmonte: Ron doesn't get enough credit...
>"So you think Snape could be up to something, then?" asked Harry, 
but Hermione broke in. 
>"Look, I don't care what you say, Dumbledore trusts Snape—" 
>"Oh give it a rest, Hermione," said Ron impatiently. "I know 
Dumbledores brilliant and everything, but that doesn't mean a really 
clever Dark wizard couldn't fool him—"<

Betsy:
I can't recall what book this scene is in, but Ron *always* suspects 
Snape as being the big bad of that year, and he is *always* wrong. 

>>vmonte: And it's always important to be an assertive teacher and 
let those brats know just how much you loath them...
<snip of the first potions class in PS/SS>

Betsy:
I've used this example, and explained this example in my first post 
on this subject.  Please see message # 122040. I wouldn't say Snape 
is showing the students he loaths them - he's telling them they'd 
better do their reading and they'd better pay attention... or else. 
 
>>vmonte: And he never shows preferential treatment...
<snip of example>

>"Professor," drawled Malfoy, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."<
[I kept this line in because it makes me ROFL every time I read 
it. :) --Betsy] 

Betsy:
Oh, Snape definitely favors the Slytherins.  I've never argued that 
he doesn't.  All I'm trying to say is this doesn't make him evil.  
Though I've also tried to show that he might have a hidden motive for 
giving the children of Death Eaters, like Draco Malfoy, an easy way 
of it.

>>vmonte: Teacher tip! Don't forget to threaten your students pets 
and then deduct house points when their pet doesn't die...
<snip of infamous Trevor the Toad as lab rat scene)

Betsy:
Like I said earlier, Snape is good at the motivating.  And again, as 
you pointed out, no amphibian died in the making of this scene.  (The 
points were clearly taken because Hermione and Neville cheated.  In 
some schools such behavior can lead to expulsion.)
 
>>vmonte: Jealous much?
>"How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter," Snape said 
suddenly, his eyes glinting. "He too was exceedingly arrogant. A 
small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a 
cut above the rest of us too. Strutting around the place with his 
friends and admirers... The resemblance between you is uncanny." 
>"My dad didn't strut," said Harry, before he could stop 
himself. "And neither do I." 
>"Your father didn't set much store by rules either," Snape went on, 
pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. "Rules were for 
lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so swollen—"

Betsy:
Snape was right, of course.  Harry's father did strut, and often.  
James wasn't above hexing students in the halls either.  And IIRC 
this scene occurs when Harry is caught breaking school rules and 
putting his own life in danger.  Again.

I can see that Snape would be a bit jealous of the school's BMOC (big 
man on campus).  Most freaks and geeks are -- though that's only a 
part of the tangle of emotions the bullied and picked-on feel towards 
their tormentors.

>>vmonte:
>and a racist too..
>"Don't ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works," hissed 
Snape. "Get out of the way, Potter." 
>"YOU'RE PATHETIC!" Harry yelled. "JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF 
YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN—" 
>"SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!" Snape shrieked, 
looking madder than ever. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just 
saved your neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would 
have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your 
father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black—now 
get out of the way, or I will make you. GET OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!"

Betsy:
I don't see any sign of racism in this scene, I'm sorry.  Is it the 
werewolf comment?  That doesn't strike me as racist.  Snape thinks 
Lupin has betrayed Dumbledore and led Harry into a trap, as Snape was 
lead into a similar trap when he was a student.  Snape was almost 
killed by Lupin at that time, so there's a reason for the distrust.  
I generally think of racism as illogical stereotyping.

Betsy