In Defense of Snape (long)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 122316


>>Betsy replied:
>Oh, I agree that Snape was setting Harry up for failure.  I just 
think there was a reason for the behavior as I state above ["to make 
the correct impression on Draco Malfoy. Snape is a spy"].<

>>SSSusan:
>Seems kind of a dumb thing to do, though, doesn't it?  Set Harry up 
for failure from the beginning?  I mean, you're arguing that Snape is 
one of the Good Guys, one who never wants to see Voldy return, one 
who wants him eliminated if he does return?  Then wouldn't he WANT 
Harry Potter -- the kid who vanquished Voldy the first time, the only 
one who apparently has a chance to beat him for good -- to learn? 
>Or are you thinking that at this point Snape knows nothing about 
Harry's likely role in any future Voldycide?  Or that he doesn't 
believe Voldy will return?  It seems to me that that *can't* be your 
point; otherwise, why would Snape have to maintain a cover w/ the DE 
kids?  If he isn't in on the possibility that Voldy's still hanging 
round out there, trying to make a comeback, then Snape wouldn't have 
to maintain any cover or worry about what the DE kids thought of him, 
would he?<
<snip>

Betsy:
I was using a bit of slang up there -- sorry!  To "set someone up for 
failure," means to arrange things so they'll make a fool out of 
themselves.  So in that first class Snape set Harry up for failure by 
asking him potion questions he probably didn't know the answer for 
and blaming Harry and Ron for Neville's potion accident (as Geoff 
pointed out - Snape probably would've yelled at them if they *had* 
helped Neville).  I don't think he's not trying to teach Harry (or 
Neville for that matter), but I do think part of Snape's method is to 
choose a scapegoat in order to scare the crap out of the class and 
motivate them to never, ever be in the scapegoat's position (i.e. do 
the reading, learn the potions, etc.).  For various reasons 
(including the Spy!Snape one) Harry was chosen for that illustrious 
position.

So yes, I think Snape is aware of Harry's importance in the fight 
against Voldemort.  And I have strong suspisions that he's aware of 
Neville's position too.

>>Betsy:
>I'm not trying to argue that Snape is the best teacher at Hogwarts, 
but he is one of the better ones.< 
 
>>SSSusan:
>And I agree that Snape really knows his stuff, that he is effective 
in getting many of the students to really pay attention, to work 
hard, to work to high standards, and, likely, to achieve high marks 
on OWLS.  But his viciousness with Harry & Neville -- the only two 
potential Prophecy Boys -- seems to me to be shooting The Order's 
mission in the foot.<

Betsy:
I think, based on Neville's smile and Harry's confidence, that both 
boys ended up doing well on their Potion's exam in OotP.  In which 
case, Snape is a good teacher.  However, if they both blew their 
exams (especially Harry - Neville really did seem hopeless in class - 
how many cauldrons did he end up destroying?) then I'll have to 
reexamine my view on the matter.

Betsy