The Isolated Headmaster: Implications for Snape and Harry

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 163712


> Alla:

> I just cannot think of man who suffered as badly as Dumbledore seemed 
> to be in the Cave as man without compassion. Or at least I hope not.
> 
> What I refuse to do is to justify Dumbledore's mistakes as the 
> correct cause of action especially when he himself confesses to 
> making them.
> 
> To bring it back to this topic, I cannot help but wondering, maybe DD 
> indeed had this conversation with Snape and nothing came out of it?
> 
> It would certainly make me feel much better, although I doubt it 
> judged by the fact that in the books we see DD actually trying to do 
> something about their animosity not earlier than OOP.
> 
> Duh! So,Headmaster did you watch Harry or did you not?

Pippin:
Watch, yes. But interfere? 

Do you think the head of the CIA interferes every time there's
a personality conflict between his agents? Dumbledore
believed, right or wrong, that Snape's conflict with Harry had
nothing to do with Voldemort. It wasn't his business as Head
of the Order unless it interfered with Order business. Then
indeed, he realized that he should have taught Harry 
occlumency himself.

Does the administration of a school interfere every time
there's a conflict between a student and a teacher? We see that
at Hogwarts only when there are rules being broken, or a student 
is failing or seriously injured. Nobody tries to smooth things out 
between Hermione and Trelawney, though Hermione's withdrawal 
from class ruined any future career that required Divination as a 
subject, and she might have kept at it if she'd had Firenze 
instead. Hogwarts does not see it as an obligation to make
sure its students reach their goals in every subject they attempt.

 Harry, struggle though he might, was not failing potions and has 
never failed any course with Snape except occlumency. It would 
make sense if Dumbledore didn't interfere until then, given his
detached style and his determination not to single Harry out
for special treatment.

 And then we do see a change in Snape's behavior towards Harry !
 Snape is still his snide sarcastic self, and he seems to be thinking 
of Harry as a wizard who lacks ability, but IIRC, he never says so 
again  except when he's not in class and  Harry's enemies are listening. 


Pippin
thanking Alla for inspiring this insight into canon