Snape-the Hero -- Snape-the Abuser

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 143547

Betsy Hp <horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:
> <SNIP>
> Betsy Hp:
> However, this is an interesting tangent, so I'll bite <g>.  
> First and foremost, Snape *never* tried to poison Trevor.  If 
> he had attempted to do so, Trevor would be dead (or sporting a 
> third eyeball or whatever the poison was meant to do).  
> *Neville* was the one preparing to poison his pet.

On Snape's orders.  Sadistic, cruel, and totally reprehensible.  I 
simply do not understand how you defend this evil (and yes, I do 
literally mean evil) behavior on Snape's part.  Please enlighten me, 
because I simply can see no way to interpret this except for utter 
sadism and cruelty, and an attempt to poison a boy's beloved pet.

> Snape was standing by with the antidote.  And Snape's 
> instructions to Neville were *not* on how to create an effective 
> poison.  The potion Snape assigned to the class would not have 
> adversely harmed Trevor at all.  As we saw when Trevor took it.  
> There was a bit of psychological pressure being put on Neville, 
> but Trevor came out unscathed.

Sigh.  I must confess to being completely puzzled.  It is obvious 
is that scene that Snape is being reprehensible and sadistically 
cruel.  I simply do not understand how anyone, especially someone 
who so detests seeing the weak targeted, can defend him.

I must say, it also speaks to Dumbledore's idiotic policies that 
Snape was not put firmly and publically in his place after this 
deplorable episode.

Lupinlore