Snape's Cruelty Has Purpose (Was Re: lily/snape)

[gelite67]

No: HPFGUIDX 150532

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> Betsy Hp:
> 
> "  However, I've never gotten the impression Snape had any sort of 
> personal issue with Neville.  He gets frustrated with him, and he 
> devotes a bit of personal attention when Neville goes through his 
> third year crises.  But it's nothing like the personal level things 
> get to when Harry is involved.  At least, IMO."
> 
> 
> 
>  Katssirius replied:
> We never see evidence that Snape singles out anyone else except for 
> Harry and Neville.  <snip>  Snape is cruel towards Neville 
> because he is weak.  Surely Neville is not the only timid or clumsy 
> student at Hogwarts in their house or even in their year.  Snape 
> punishes Neville for not succeeding.  Why should he care in 
> particular about Neville?
> 
>

Angie here:

Well, Snape is quite nasty to Ron, too.  I've always thought that his 
cruelty toward Harry and Neville in particular was at least partially 
for his own protection -- if LV can always tell if he's being lied to 
or somehow broke into Snape's mind, wouldn't it be necessary that he 
see Snape being nasty to Harry and Neville and whoever else supports 
DD?  Wouldn't Snape be expected to be nasty to Neville, in 
particular, given that Neville's parents supported DD and their 
torture landed some DEs in Azkaban?  

I understand that Snape could remove his incriminating 
memories/thoughts and put them in the Pensieve (certain conversations 
with DD, I presume, for example) but it would look suspicious if 
Snape didn't have something to show LV, wouldn't it?

As Katsirrius noted, it seems like part of Snape's caustic remarks or 
insults are also geared toward Harry and Neville's shoddy work.   The 
question is:  why does Snape care if Harry and Neville don't learn 
potions?  Because they need to learn it!  Granted, Snape's not 
motivating them in the right way (and really can't), but if they 
would listen properly and actually apply themselves, Snape just might 
be able to teach them something that would help them.  (Bezoar, 
anyone?) And I think Snape is trying to do that.  For instance, at 
the end of HBP, even as Snape is trying to make his escape and is 
arguing with Harry, he still provides Harry instruction on using 
nonverbal spells.


Part of Snape's cruelty toward Harry has also emerged when Harry has 
acted recklessly and put himself in danger, like in POA and GOF when 
Harry is wandering around the castle unprotected after hours.  Again, 
though he couldn't express it in a positive way, Snape was still 
trying to protect Harry, I believe.

Don't get me wrong --  I think Snape is either the world's greatest 
actor or he actually does enjoy taunting them some.  But I do think 
he's trying to help them, as well.  Perhaps Snape's impatience is due 
in part to his belief/knowledge that his own days at HW were numbered 
and that he had to teach them all he could while he could and they 
didn't seem to get it?