In Defense of Snape (long.)

[eggplant9998]

No: HPFGUIDX 122792


"Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> wrote:


> I think something is being missed here.
> Snape is a teacher. Harry is a student 

And 4 of his previous teachers had tried to kill him and Harry knows 
this particular teacher hates his guts.

> it is entirely appropriate in quite a few
> circumstance for a teacher to take more 
> care about their own privacy, than they give 
> consideration to a students privacy. 

No doubt teachers would almost universally agree with that and no 
doubt students would almost universally disagree with that. 

> It can be entirely appropriate for a teacher,
> on certain occasions, to see their students 
> in a state of undress - for example, if the
> kids are changing for sport. It is *far* less
> appropriate (perhaps totally inappropriate
> depending on the environment) for the teacher
> to allow the students to see them in such
> a state of undress. 

And suppose the teacher was getting obvious enjoyment at watching 
those naked students, just as Snape was getting obvious enjoyment 
invading Harry's privacy. But in light of the recent scandals 
involving priests teachers and young boys I don't think I want to go 
further in that direction. 

Snape is an adult, a professor, the mighty Potions Master at 
Hogwarts and Harry is just a boy, and yet Snape is the one who takes 
safety precautions before they engage in combat and allows Harry to 
do nothing similar. That is the act of a coward and Harry has a 
perfect right to feel contempt toward his teacher because of it. 
That is why I cheered when Harry looked into the Pensive and if 
Snape is humiliated then good, he should be.

> Leaving the thoughts he would most want
> to conceal from Snape inside his head makes
> it a real test of his ability, and gives 
>him a real incentive 

Leaving the thoughts Snape  would most want to conceal from Harry
would be a real incentive to resist Harry's counterattack. 

> Presumably he is already an accomplished
> enough Occlumens that he is not likely to
> learn that much from battling Harry.

But that's not true, not only was Snape a coward he was also 
incredibly careless and stupid to let Harry see him use the Pensive 
and then let him alone with it. Presumably Snape learned not to be 
so foolish next time; who knows, that little lesson might even save 
Snape's life someday.

Eggplant