Snapes punishments of the thieves

[joan of anarchy]

No: HPFGUIDX 173786

Charlie wrote:
>
> When Luna, Neville and Ginny <snip> are caught in the headmasters
office, for theft of a valuable magical device, what does Snape do? He
sends them as punishment to Hagrid to do something in the Forbidden
Forest. 
> 
><snip>If Snape knew ANYTHING about Luna, he'd know she'd enjoy that
>trip - and that neither Neville or Ginny would be really scared as 
>they were linked to Hagrid via HRH  already. [I'm not 100% on this, 
>but I'd assume Ginny at least would have heard from Ron about his 
>adventures in the Forest.]
> 
> Again, a small detail, but I think its an indication that Snape was
> not league with the Toad, no writing painful lines on their hands, 
> etc.

Agreed.  I believe that this was the moment that I (finally!) felt
100% confidant that Snape was on the right side.  (However I might be
confusing the timeline for when we learned this information.)  From
canon we know that HRH's punishments of visiting the Forbidden Forest
with Hagrid were hardly a punishment at all.  In fact, Harry learned
useful information, and it's a safe way of exploring a highly magical
place.  

For Ginny, Neville, and Luna, this trip is not only a way to safely
converse with Hagrid and safely visit the Forbidden Forest, but it's
also a time when they get to escape their seemingly constant
persecution and punishment inside the castle.  A nice break amid the
torture and reign of DE's ruling Hogworts.  Lastly, I wouldn't be
surprised if it was difficult (and penalized) to visit Hagrid at all,
so Snape may have actually been giving the substitute trio (Ginny,
Neville, and Luna) a gift: getting to visit Hagrid.

When Draco was punished this way, it was horrible for him and perhaps
too large for the crime itself.  Draco represents the ultimate
Slytherin in his generation, and you just know that he recounted his
Forbidden Forest journey in a way that reflected him in a wonderful
light, spoke poorly of an "inept" Hagrid, and exaggerated the dangers
in the Forbidden Forest.

Headmaster Snape is cunning.  He is observant.  He is smart.  (And,
yes, he is brave.  *tears*)  Punishing the substitute trio with the
Forbidden Forest is certainly no punishment for them at all.  It's
also a punishment that the Slytherins would consider horrible and
cruel.  Once again, Snape shows his cunning ability to play both sides
-- and make decisions that favor Dumbledorian ethics without showing
his cards to Slytherin and actually further proving to Slytherin and
DEs his appearance of loyalty to the dark side.  Brilliant, eh?

Joan of Anarchy, who'd love to know what GLN talked to Hagrid about in
the Forbidden Forest