Sadistic Teachers (was:Re: Teaching Styles)

[Neri]

No: HPFGUIDX 148073

 
> Ginger:
> I actually agree with your general assessment of Snape being more 
> subtle that Umbridge, but I wanted to point out that Neville had to 
> disembowl horned toads (Phrynosoma, aka horned lizards) whereas 
> Trevor is a toad (Bufonidae).  They're not the same animal.  The 
> horned toad is actually a lizard.  Not that disembowling is so much 
> more pleasant on lizards, but at least it isn't his pet.
> 

Neri:
Well, I'm not sure if JKR knows at all that "horned toads" is actually
an American incorrect term for horned lizards, or if she meant here
several species of (real) toads that also have horns, or if horned
toads are magical creatures. But I am sure of one thing: JKR thought
the horned toads that Neville had to disembowel belonged to the order
Anura (frogs and toads) and *not* lizards, since when Neville returns
from his detention she tells us that Hermione was teaching him "a
Scouring Charm to remove the frog guts from under his fingernails". 

Now, here is a worthy challenge for Snape apologists: prove that the
frog guts under Neville's fingernails did not come from the lizards
that Snape had made him disembowel. I can hardly wait <g> 

Neri