[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape as father figure

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 130964

Amanda originally:

> > I argue that Snape exhibits objectivity towards Harry -- as an example,
> > during the Occlumency lessons--especially after Harry "breaks into"
Snape's
> > thoughts and sees some of Snape's memories. Harry, typical for his
> > perception, braces for a very personal response and instead meets a very
> > professional one. An objective one.

Phoenixgod:

> You think Snapes reaction was objective? You apparently operate
> under a different definition than I do. Objectivity is dispassionate
> and clear thinking which is pretty much the opposite of what Snape
> does.

Let's look at the passage. It's a bit long to type, so I will recap--but it
begins at the bottom of page 591, OoP, for those who want to follow along
with the home game.

Snape has cast Legilimens. Harry has managed some resistance, can still see
Snape, and raises his own wand and casts the shield spell, "Protego." Snape
is staggered, and "suddenly Harry's mind was teeming with memories that were
not his."

Snape breaks the bond; Harry staggers back. He sees "Snape was shaking
slightly, very white in the face."

Snape repairs the jar that has broken when Harry fell back against the
shelf. And then he says, "Well, Potter...that was certainly an
improvement..." He pants slightly as he straightens the Pensieve and
continues, "I don't remember telling you to use a Sheild Charm...but there
is no doubt that it was effective..."

Harry does not speak; he is unnerved by what he saw and he also is,
characteristically, expecting a personal attack from Snape in retaliation.
Then,

"Let's try again, shall we?" said Snape.

Stop the tape. Okay, this is a man who has just had James Potter's son see
into his past and personal memories. And are we shown, even through Harry's
eyes, that Snape snarls? narrows his eyes? says anything "silkily" or
sarcastically or any of the other familiar adjectives and descriptions of
Snape being mean or cruel?

No. Snape simply *says* things. He has been shaken; but Harry breaking
through into his own mind is a risk he accepted from the outset--as
evidenced by his safeguarding certain memories in the Pensieve--and it
happened. Okay. He took a couple of moments to collect himself, and
immediately *tries again.*

This is a professional response. This is what a teacher does--when a student
gets it right, you immediately reinforce it. And Snape did so without
passion or anger.

Roll tape.

Snape casts Legilimens again. [and if I may make an aside, I cannot fathom
why Harry is always caught so unprepared, because Snape always makes a point
of saying "I'm casting the spell now" and then counting to three. Can't
Harry count? How hard is it to figure out it's coming..?] And this time,
Harry has a vision of the Department of Mysteries and makes it through the
door--which Snape evidently sees, and breaks the connection himself.

And *here* we see anger. Here Snape  is "standing over him, looking furious"
and "For some reason, Snape seemed even angrier than he had done two minutes
before, when Harry had seen into his own memories."

End clip; they are interrupted soon after.

This is not personal anger. This is professional and goal-oriented anger.
This is the anger of a teacher whose student is not working. This is the
frustration of one who is risking himself, trying to teach someone who
wilfully won't learn, even knowing the stakes are high. And Harry's "For
some reason" thought is telling--for it shows that Harry understands their
interaction only on a personal feud-level, and is incapable of understanding
that they can interact any other way. Incapable of seeing Snape as a teacher
and not an adversary.

In any case. Snape is angry at Harry for not working at Occlumency. Snape is
not angry at Harry for successfully resisting him and accidentally breaking
into his memories. So yes, I call that professional and objective. At least
a damn sight more than Harry is managing. [and yes, for you Harry-defenders
out there, I have already made the case that Voldemort may have been
influencing Harry and will not blame him overly for this.]

~Amandageist