Abusive Snape was: Emphasis on proper address

[prncssme]

No: HPFGUIDX 131459

Lupinlore says:

> Well, but how effective his teaching style is remains totally beside
> the point.  Snape, IMO, is abusive and totally undeserving of
respect,
> irregardless of how well his students do on the OWLS.  Even if Harry
> gets an "O," I will still firmly maintain that he is well within his
> rights to view Snape with nothing but contempt and to withhold
respect
> from him.  Effectiveness is not a defense for abuse - EVER.
> 
> Lupinlore

Princess Sara's defense:

  Okay, I was just going to let this one go but I just want it on the record that I, in no way, 
think abuse is EVER justified or defendable. But honestly, I just don't think Snape is all that 
abusive. High handed, overly critical, biased toward his own house and deeply unhappy in 
his current position but not abusive.

  I think this is why we will never agree on the respect of Snape issue. I still maintain that 
however Snape treats Harry (which, imho, is not even NEAR the level of abuse shown by 
the Dursleys), the man has saved his life on numerous occasions. I also believe that Snape 
cannot treat Harry well without raising the suspicions of certain DE children in Slytherin 
house. But when they are alone, a la the occlumency lessons, Snape shows remarkable 
restraint and dare I say it, politeness until Harry crosses the line and looks into the 
pensieve. I just keep thinking about Snape's almost sympathetic reaction to Harry's 
memory of being chased up a tree by Aunt Marge's dog. It seems incongrous with a Snape 
who will exploit any weakness to hurt Harry.

   I just think that condemning Snape out of hand based on the point of view of a teenage 
boy is unfair to the character. And until JKR tells me that Snape is working for Voldemort 
and wants to beat the living snot out of Harry, I'll say he's worthy of respect.

- Princess Sara, who, as you might have guessed, is a rampant Snape fangirl and who will 
defend her Potions Master until she breathes her last. Unless of course, he's shown to be 
canonically evil. ;o)