First potions lesson/Harry getting special treatment and Draco's view of him

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 145910

> >>Alla:
> Right, great quote, but that is the thing - IMO it shows that no 
> official homework was given, since Harry does not mention ANY   
> pages assigned to read OR any essays to write. It seems to me that 
> he read it only because he was curious and Snape had no right to  
> ask him anything at all, IMO.

Betsy Hp:
Um... Snape is a potions teacher asking potions questions in a 
potions class.  But you're suggesting Snape doesn't have a right to 
ask *any* questions?  Seems a bit extreme, IMO. <g>

> >>Potioncat:
> <snip>
> Is it a good way to start off teaching 11 year old kids. Nope.

Betsy Hp:
Unless you're a demanding teacher expecting high results.  And, as 
canon shows, Snape is both.  And he succeeds in his mission.  I'm 
betting Snape starts out all of his first year classes with that 
particular speech and some "impossible to answer" questions.  Though 
I'd also bet he spreads the questions around, usually.  But his 
questions do let his students know that success in Snape's classroom 
will come from hard work.

> >>Alla:
> <snip> 
> Are you talking about PS/SS and poor Slytherins being cheated of   
> the House Cup? I am being a bit sarcastic here of course. Trio     
> just defeated Voldemort. I see no special treatment here          
> whatsoever. IMO of course, it was points fairly and very          
> deservingly awarded. And this is also IMO objectively fair win, 
> even if Slytherins do not think so.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
For me, it's a timing issue.  The trio had defeated Voldemort (well, 
not really, but we'll go with the propaganda <g>) at least three 
days ago.  But Dumbledore, rather cruelly IMO, waits to assign house 
points until the closing feast.  It's rather like a groom waiting to 
for the bride to make her way down the aisle to tell her he's in 
love with her maid of honor.  It's good for the bride to know before 
she says "I do", but to quote "The Wedding Singer":  "Again, 
something you could have told me *YESTERDAY*!!"

Dumbledore didn't just reward Gryffindor, he punished Slytherin.  It 
was an odd choice, and it never sat well with me. (Personally, I 
think he's trying to make up for the Norbert incident, and it does 
win Harry back into Gryffindor's good graces, but at what cost?)

> >>Alla:
> <snip>
> I have no doubt that Dumbledore loves Harry now, but I disagree   
> that he got preferential treatment from him in school.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Yes, because Dumbledore routinely hands out invisibility cloaks to 
students, and makes sure to quietly return them when the student 
looses them while breaking school rules.  Doesn't every headmaster? 
<g>

I do think Dumbledore had a purpose behind the special treatment he 
gave Harry.  As Magpie pointed out, Harry is the boy of prophecy; he 
is the Chosen One.  But that does lead to "special treatment", and 
whether it's deserved or not, it's rather a lot to ask others to not 
notice and resent.  Draco got special treatment in HBP, and plenty 
of readers resent it.  Even though Draco's life was at stake.

Betsy Hp