Snape's unfairness was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Snape and Raistlin Majere

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 126880


<SNIP> 

> Actually, Oliver reminded me of something: when Snape
> is going to referee that game in PS, Oliver tells his
> team "we should not give him any excuse" or something
> along these lines. Notice that Oliver, an experienced
> Gryffindor :-), does not think that even if they play
> the cleanest game possible Snape will find a way to
> penalise them. Harry does, though, and that's exactly
> his problem.
> We discussed possible strategies Harry could adopt in
> his dealings with Snape a while ago. Changing his
> attitude to "Don't give him any excuse" might be a
> winning one.
> 
> 
> >  May the final two
> > books include many, many scenes with Snape.
> 
> Let's drink to that. :-)
> 
> Irene
> 
> 

Let me give another example, however, that cuts against this 
interpretation.  In OOTP, Snape deliberately sabotages Harry's potion 
so that he will be able to give Harry another zero.  That does not 
strike me as the behavior of someone who needs an excuse.  Rather it 
is the behavior of someone who manufactures an excuse where none 
exists.

To get this back to the Raistlin/Snape comparison, Snape has always 
struck me as cruel and stupid in his teaching methods and his 
dealings with his students.  Raistlin, on the other hand, while 
cruel, was never stupid.


Lupinlore