In Defense of Snape (long)

[Juli]

No: HPFGUIDX 123244


SSSusan wrote:
>><snip> But how would you explain what he [Snape] did
>> in insulting Neville in front of Lupin & the whole
>> class, in telling Lupin he wasn't trustworthy before
>> his DADA class? Still a carryover of frustration?  
>> It *felt* more flat-out nasty to me.
 
Carol:
...huge snippage...
>> Snape doesn't exactly say that Neville is untrustworthy.
>> He says not to trust him with anything difficult, meaning 
>> that he's likely to botch the job and cause devastation 
>> (as when his cauldron melts in Snape's class). But it's 
>> his first words, "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but
>> this class contains Neville Longbottom," that I think are 
>> important. A warning. The name Longbottom. Neville's 
>> greatest fear, which Snape surely doesn't realize is himself,
>> and which logically ought to be Bellatrix. To me it fits
>> together. (And, yes, Snape would know that there was a
>> boggart in the wardrobe and deduce that that's what the
>> lesson would be about.) 

Juli now:
I love your idea Carol, Snape has always been
extremely subtle, he tells whatever he wants or has to
in a way that only the person concerned gets the
message. I just read a post about DD and Snape working
as a team many moments, but the one described is when 
Mrs Norris is petrified by the heir of Slytherin and
Snape accuses Harry, the poster (oops forgot the name)
implies that DD and Snape communicated using legimency
then. Another example comes to my mind: during OoP
when after the vision Harry breaks into Umbridge's
office to talk to Sirius and he and his friends are
caught, Umbridge calls Snape and asks him for some
Veritaserum, then tells Crabbe "loosen your hold a
little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of
tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to
mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a
job." Snape wanted to save Neville's life, but still
he didn't want to compromise his position both as an
Umbridge supporter and as a DE.

Back to my original point, I agree with you Carol,
Snape just wanted to make sure that Lupin knew who
Neville was (Frank and Alice Longbottom, Aurors,
child) and that since his parents were in St Mungo's
because of too much Crucioing, he sure must fear Bella
and Co a lot more than a simple teacher, and I guess
he does, but that moment when Snape *insults* him in
front of the entire class, he fears him more than
anything.

Juli