Bad Writing? / Petty Vengeance

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 162978

SSSusan:
> > However, the wall you will run up against in this assertion is 
that it cannot be proven as fact, since we're with Harry in his POV 
and he did not definitively *see* Snape drop the vial.

Anthanielc wrote:
> > > "Moments of petty vengeance" are always around us; it's what 
you do with the urge that marks your character.

zanooda: 
> I have to admit I never thought that the flask breaking could not 
be Snape's fault. 
*(snip)*
I'm not trying to justify Snape's behavior, because you just don't 
exercise your "petty vengeance" over someone who is not in a position 
to respond (I agree with you 100%, Anthanielc).
*(nsip)*

Ceridwen:
I went back to read it, because I had convinced myself that Harry 
*saw* Snape drop the flask.  He didn't.  Harry had turned away.

When I'm supremely indignant, when I think I've really spoken my mind 
well - for instance, in an on-line discussion where things are heated 
but still friendly and people are putting forth their views in 
persuasive language, and I've added my little bit in what I think is 
biting, incisive, and thoroughly clear language - I do something 
stupid.  I misspell, or I go back and edit and forget to delete the 
first draft portion, or I have forgotten to put in a word or a 
phrase, say the person's name I'm talking about, and there it is, and 
me with egg on my face.

Or, like giving someone a piece of my mind, then turning around and 
walking face-first into a wall.  We've all done things like that to 
some extent or other.  Harry was feeling very pleased with himself, 
he thought he might at least get an 'E', and then...

CRASH!

And Snape says, "Whoops."

It's possible the "Whoops" and not the broken potion was 
Snape's "petty vengeance".  I've done that, when someone has gotten a 
good one over on me, then turned around and made a blooper like the 
ones I mentioned above.  Not maliciously, but perhaps with more than 
just a touch of self-righteous superiority and the feeling that they 
got what was coming to them.

Ceridwen.