Snape, Neville & Trevor (was:Re: Snape-the Hero -- Snape-the Abuser)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 143629

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > <snip>  
> > First and foremost, Snape *never* tried to poison Trevor.
> > <snip>  
> > *Neville* was the one preparing to poison his pet.

> >>Lupinlore: 
> 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.

> 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.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Okay, the house is empty of visiting family, the turkey carcass is 
gently bubbling away in the stockpot, and I finally have time to 
tackle this subject.  I know I will not change minds here.  But you 
did ask, so I'll take the opportunity to clarify my point of view.

First and foremost, this is *not*, IMO, an example of the powerful 
picking on the weak.  Snape is not behaving sadistically, taking 
pleasure in Neville's pain.  He is behaving like a teacher.  A 
strict, demanding, and definitely scary teacher, but a teacher none 
the less. 

He didn't set Neville up for failure by giving erroneous 
instructions (the instructions were clearly stated), or difficult 
working conditions (Neville is working in the same environment as 
everyone else in his class). Yet Neville is screwing up his potion 
beyond anyone else in the class.  The narrator tells us that this is 
not new.

"Neville regularly went to pieces in Potions lessons; it was his 
worst subject, and his great fear of Professor Snape made things ten 
times worse." (PoA scholastic hardback p.125)

So Neville is already terrified of Snape.  And his potions are 
terrible.  I suspect that Neville (who does worse in this class than 
Goyle or Crabbe appear to, which is fairly telling of how badly he's 
doing) is on his way to flunking out of Potions, and quite possibly 
Hogwarts.  (The four head of house subjects strike me as core 
curriculum.)

To my mind, this leaves Snape three different options:

1) Leave Neville alone.  Let the boy either flunk out of Hogwarts or 
at the very least Potions.

2) Very gently and tenderly give Neville a nice fatherly talk that 
helps him get over his self-doubt and fear and either appoint him a 
tutor or give him special help after class when Snape has free-time. 

3) Grab him by the scruff of the neck and drag him through Potions, 
letting Neville know that failure will not be allowed.

The first option is the easiest, obviously.  It's also the cruelest 
and most irresponsible, IMO.  The second option is wonderful, but 
totally unrealistic.  We see Snape attempt a fatherly talk with 
Draco in HBP, a boy he seems to genuinely care for and a beloved 
Slytherin, and he fails miserably.  Snape just doesn't *do* gentle 
and tender -- not verbally, anyway.  So Snape goes with option 
number three.  He pushes Neville, and pushes Neville, and Neville 
passes Potions and is back for the next year.

Interestingly enough, I don't recall that Neville ever has the same 
level of trouble in Potions again.  It's never going to be his best 
subject, but he'd probably be able to make a basic potion without 
blowing up his kitchen or poisoning his intended recipient.

And there's the final rub, IMO.  These potions are made to be 
taken.  These aren't just cool chemistry experiments, these are 
practical creations.  In a sewing class, students often have to wear 
their work.  In cooking classes students have to eat what they've 
made.  And Snape has his students take their own potions from time 
to time, IIRC.  I believe he also threatened to test their antidote 
making prowess by feeding them the relevant poison.

The Trevor incident is often seen as an example of breath-taking 
cruelty.  But look at how Harry and Ron and Seamus respond to 
Neville's crisis:  they ignore it.  Seamus has some gossip on Sirius 
Black and Harry and Ron are all ears (ibid p.126).  Trevor's fate is 
a total non-issue with them.  Probably because, for all of his fire-
breathing, Snape doesn't routinely kill or maim people (or their 
familiars) in his classroom.

What Snape *does* do is put high expectations on his students and 
then force them to meet them, even the ones that struggle.  It's 
part of what I like about the man, and I suspect, part of what you 
hate.  Which is why, as I said, I know I've not changed your mind.

> >>Lupinlore:
> 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.

Betsy Hp:
You're very big on public humiliation as a form of punishment.  
Dumbledore is not.  At least, I've not seen him publically humiliate 
anyone, though I know he's had words with a few folks from time to 
time.  Plus, what is there to punish?  Neville has a bigger break 
down after Fake!Moody gets through with him (now *there* is a 
perfect example of sadistic behavior -- brilliantly conveyed in the 
film I'll illegally add <g>).  Trevor is not harmed.  Neville makes 
the potion successfully.  No one in the class room is stunned or 
shocked.  Why would Dumbledore even hear about the incident?  And 
what would he be told if he did?  "Snape fed Neville's potion 
assignment to his pet, while closely supervising the pet's 
reactions."  To my mind (and yes, I know you'll disagree) there's 
nothing there to punish.

Betsy Hp