[HPforGrownups] Re: In Defense of Snape (long)

[TrekkieGrrrl]

No: HPFGUIDX 122366

> Alla:
>
> Suppose that Snape was present at the exam. Harry KNOWS the answer,
> but Snape's presence could have stopped him from answering the
> question up to his true potential. He could not have used his
> ability to show understanding at all.
>
>
> Shaun:
>
> Why not?
>
> I don't see any reason to think that Snape's presence at the
> examination would have affected Harry at all. We know Polyjuice
> potion was at least mentioned in class in second year, and
> presumably examination questions are based on what students have
> studied, so Harry would have no reason to conceal his knowledge.
>
>
> Alla:
>
> You misunderstood me. I did not mean that Harry will be afraid to
> write about Polyjuice potion. I meant that Snape's presence may be
> terrorising per se ( and fear MAY stop you from remembering the
> answer) or I will not put it behind him to sabotage Harry's grade on
> purpose , like... I don't know  throw the vial with potion on the
> floor.

Oh I don't think Snape would sabotage an exam. Not even Harry's.

After all, teachers are generally interested in their students getting as 
high grades as possible, because that shows the outside world how good the 
*teacher* is too. If all Snape's pupils were generally getting lousy grades, 
I doubt he would have stayed on Hogwarts as a potions *master*

We all sometimes seem to forget that Harry's class isn't the only class 
Snape teaches. And if he was a generally bad teacher, surely he wouldn't 
have been able to uphold his position for years. So we have to assume that 
he was at least slightly worse than usual towards Harry - and Neville. 
Harry, IMO because of him being his father's son (hey, teachers are humans 
too, and humans ARE sometimes irrational) and Nevill for being a klutz. Some 
people just can't stand clumsy people. It's not a nice trait, but a lot of 
people feel that way. Some people cope better than other at being around 
"stupid" people. Again, not a nice trait, but also, as it's been repeated ad 
nauseam, Snape is not a "nice" person. He's irrational, holds grudges, hates 
clumsy fools and has a volatile temper. Sounds just like me actually... :o)

But being nice has nothing to do with doing the morally right thing in the 
big perspective, as in being on DD's side and against LV. As unpleasant as 
you may be on a personal level, as "good" can you be overall. And Vice 
Versa. Again, the "but he was always so nice" serial killer springs to mind. 
Or someone like Hermann Gring, who was very fond of his family and a good 
father, yet schemed the annihilation of millions.

In regards to the Ployjuice potion, yes they had been taught about it 
earlier, and we must assume that there are repetitive courses before an 
exam, even in the WW.

So both Harry and Neville ought to be able to answer - IF they have been 
paying attention.

~TrekkieGrrrl