In Defense of Snape (long)

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122424


Siriusly Snapey Susan wrote:
I too, am arguing that Harry & Neville are special cases, but I
mean it in a different way. I mean that they are special because one
or the other of them is THE ONE who's supposed to have the power to
vanquish Voldy, and because of that specialness, I think the
teachers who're "in the know" about Voldy & the prophecy [and I *am*
making a big assumption that Snape is one of them] should go the
extra mile with them to make sure they're really meeting their full
potential. And I would argue that Snape has never done that with
these two.

YES, Harry has been defiant and Neville has been The Klutz King, but
Snape bears much of the blame for how he set the stage with the two
of them in the first year and how he's shown no interest in altering
his treatment of them *even as* he's seen them continue to fail and
as he's come to KNOW Voldy's back.

Dung's right -- he wouldn't be Snape if he weren't this way. For
him to be introspective & self-assessing would strike most of us as
OOC. I'm just pointing out where I think he has failed The Order's
cause. A human failing, a decidedly Snape failing I suppose, but
one I wish he would make strides to correct.

Have I done any better explaining my position, I wonder?

vmonte responds:
Yes, you have. I agree with you SSSusan. I think that Snape's 
strategy with Harry and Neville is completely wrong. 

I wonder however, at how he will react if Neville or Harry actually 
do well in their potions test. Will he feel proud, like he did a good 
job as a teacher? Or will he accuse Harry of passing because of 
his "fame." He'll also probably accuse Neville's test giver as being 
incompetent.