[HPforGrownups] Snape's DADA lesson WAS: Re: CHAPDISC: HBP9, The Half-Blood Prince

[IreneMikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 147734

dumbledore11214 wrote:

> Alla:
> 
> Listee in question though just as any other listee is not a topic for 
> our discussions. :-)

I mean it in the nicest way possible - it's always a pleasure to argue 
Snape with you. :-)

> 
> Irene:
>> Their task was analogous to, say, doing mental maths. Harry 
> produced a 
>> big whopping calculator and was very quick in punching the buttons. 
> Do 
>> you think a maths teacher should have praised him?
>>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Using your analogy, of course not, but I only agree with the first 
> part of it. "Mental maths" - absolutely, nice analogy, but I would 
> not analogize Harry doing verbal spell instead of nonverbal with 
> using calculator, but rather with doing calculations on paper, 
> instead of in his mind. I cannot translate this word to get the exact 
> meaning, but you will get what I mean, I am sure. IMO what Harry did 
> could be analogized to doing calculations "stolbikom". Harry did the 
> work; he used nothing to help himself, only his own power.

Even using this analogy, a maths teacher would not be thrilled. This was 
not the point of the exercise.

> 
> Now, that is absolutely true that Harry was not able to do what he 
> was asked to - namely to produce non-verbal spell and for that he 
> should not be praised, BUT correct me if I am wrong, isn't the idea 
> behind nonverbal spells to hide from your opponent what is your next 
> move is going to be, in essence to WIN the battle with your opponent, 
> no matter what type of the battle it is?

Yes, yes, but it's a school setting, and a specific lesson with a 
specific target in mind. I'm sure Harry uses exactly the same logic to 
justify in his mind the infamous Bezoar lesson. But even he understands 
that he's got away with it only due to the special relationship with 
Slughorn. Yes,Bezoar protects against the poison, but that was not the 
point of the exercise.

> 
> But based on what I know about Snape, I don't believe it. I mean 
> surely talking back played a part in it, but I do think that the fact 
> that Harry knocked him down played a part in it.

Could be. But I think Krista has demonstrated rather convincingly that 
if Snape wanted to punish Harry for knocking him down, he didn't have to 
wait for the talking back bit.

In Occlumency lessons Harry does not get any punishment for hexing Snape 
either.

> 
> I think I have even more reason for my speculation that Harry 
> overpowering Snape played a part in assigning him detention, 

I really doubt it. Yes, Snape is insecure in many ways (whom does 
Dumbledore love more: me or Harry? :-)) but surely he knows that in a 
real fight situation Harry is nowhere near to being a match for him, as 
the very same book demonstrates. The supposed desire to get even does 
not work for me psychologically.

Irene