Nice vs. Good, honesty, and Snape: Was Snape, Apologies, and Redemption

[lanval1015]

No: HPFGUIDX 153188

> Pippin:
> 
> Because he's an expert legilimens? Granted he hasn't admitted to 
it,
> but Harry does notice that Lupin appears to be able to read minds.
> Besides no one would need to be a legilimens to note that Neville
> is terrified of Snape.

Lanval:
Eh, no offense, Pippin, but that's part of your ESE!Lupin theory, 
isn't it? :) Which I don't buy (yet). Lupin may be a Legilimens, but 
as far as I'm aware there's no proof.

If one looks at the scene, there's also no way for Lupin to realize 
that Neville is terrified of Snape. Neville turns bright red at 
Snape's comment -- that's embarassment, shame; not terror. 

When Neville starts trembling and looking scared, it's because he's 
to be first in line for the task, and the more he hears about it, 
the more frightened he gets. 

How much does Lupin know about Neville's family? I forgot, but isn't 
his parents' fate common knowledge? In other words, there's no 
reason to believe that Lupin would have suspected a boy with 
Neville's past to be haunted in his sleep by his Potions Master. 


> houyhnhnm:
> 
> The suggestion to dress the Snape!boggart up as an old woman came
> entirely from Lupin.

Lanval:

My mind's reeling, thinking of what other and possibly MUCH worse 
scenarios he might have come up with. He HAD to make him look 
ridiculous, right?

> houyhnhnm:
And did he not know that Snape would be there?  I know when my 
colleagues have their free periods and I know where they can be 
found. The whole thing was a set-up from the get-go.

Lanval:
A set-up? Lupin had a cunning plan? He lay awake at night, 
maliciously scheming how to humiliate his old enemy? 

That would involve:

1.) prior knowledge of Neville's worst fear

2.) prior knowledge that Snape would be present, which is against 
the odds. Lupin says this: p.133 Scholastic HB Ed.: "This one 
(boggart) moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster 
if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice." 
Seems the staff, having left the boggart alone, also politely 
vacated the room since DD informed them that Lupin would be holding 
class there. Lupin's hardly invading Snape's privacy, nor is the 
class's arrival a surprise for Snape, nor is Lupin violating common 
school rules, since DD ok'd it. Perhaps Snape decided to hang around 
just long enough to get in a little swipe at either Lupin or one of 
favorite students...? His "glittering eyes" and the "nasty sneer 
playing around his mouth" hardly speaks of surprise, or anger at 
being disturbed. If anyone is doing a set-up here, it's Snape.
 
Granted, Snape's presence does not really matter, if Lupin intended 
to pick on Snape. But I still find it very hard to believe that he 
would have guessed Neville's worst fear (Legilimency aside, of 
course).

And from a purely narrative point the scene *needs* Snape to be 
present -- because the beauty of it (while I can't speak for the 
author, this is exactly the kind of karmic punishment she appears to 
be fond of) lies in the fact that Snape's mean remark sets the 
events in motion.  


Pippin:
> The very predictable upshot of this episode is that Snape bullies
> Neville worse than ever.

Lanval:
p.139: "This time Neville charged forward looking 
determined. 'Riddikulus!' he shouted, and they had a split second's 
view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great 'Ha!' 
of laughter, and the boggart exploded..." ...'Excellent!' cried 
Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause."

And ten points for Neville.

I think it can safely be argued that this episode did more for 
Neville's self-confidence than anything else in his two years at 
Hogwarts, the points in SS/PS included. Snape hates and bullies him 
no matter what. Now at least Neville has the lovely memory of 
boggart!Snape to cheer him up when things get rough in Potions.
 
Btw, this was the same day Snape threatened to poison Trevor. Yes, I 
do think JKR let Neville have his little revenge.

Pippin:
 As far as I'm concerned, it was all about
> Lupin showing off at Snape's expense. He could have given
> Neville instructions in private, just as he did for Harry. Or he 
could
> have done what he did in the final, and had Neville go in to
> confront the boggart instead of letting the boggart come out.

Lanval:
ANY of the kids could have come up with a 'worst fear' that might 
have proved embarrassing for one of the staff, or Lupin, or for the 
student himself most of all. It's the nature of the lesson! What's 
Lupin going to do, hold ALL the lessons individually? 

And why would he send Neville inside the wardrobe to confront the 
boggart without any help? Just to spare Snape's feelings?? If Snape 
is Neville's worst fear, why must Snape be protected? 

Nevermind that this would have been asinine, since the rest of the 
students are supposed to learn from what they witness with Neville 
as an example, and draw ideas and confidence from what their 
classmates are using as a defense.