Teaching Styles & Neville

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 157919

> >>Tonks:
> <snip>
> Neville is scared of adults.  He does not expect them 
> to be warm and nurturing.  He expects them to be punitive.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, I'm not sure I believe this.  When Harry was sick it was 
Neville who suggested and then went ahead and fetched McGonagall.  

And while Neville is a bit nervous of Snape, I don't recall him 
shying away from other adults.  Actually, I kind of get the feeling 
that Neville is around older witches and wizards a lot.  That's why 
the other kids see him as a bit weird.

I really do think that what Neville is most scared of (or was, I 
think OotP may have changed that) is the expectation to perform.  
Classes like Transfiguration and Potions are so scary for him 
because his results are right out there, and neither Snape nor 
McGonagall shy away from calling him on bad results.

I suspect he's more nervous of Snape than McGonagall because Snape 
is a younger man.  Neither of which Neville has as much experience 
with (the young and male bit).  But he knows all about strict older 
women.  So he's not as nervous about McGonagall.

Anway, that's how I see it.

> >>Amiable Dorsai:
> So, if being an ass is the best way to get through to Neville, we 
> can conclude, from his performance against the Boggart and his "E" 
> in Charms, that Lupin and Flitwick are even bigger bastards than   
> Snape?

Betsy Hp:
I think it's more that Potions is a different kind of subject than 
Charms or DADA.  So Lupin and Flitwick can build Neville up, break 
through his fear, or give him time to make mistakes and learn from 
them.  But if Snape did the same thing Neville could well end up 
killing himself and/or others.

There's no guess work in potions.  Until you've reached a certain 
level of competence.  And Neville *should* be scared of screwing 
up.  Because screwing up in Potions can lead to really frightening 
things.

Betsy Hp