Harry's detention in HBP (was:Re: Maraurders/he exists)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 168300

> >>Sherry:
> As if Snape would have allowed Harry to see any of his own         
> detentions when he's in the midst of trying to further rip Harry's 
> respect and love for his father to pieces.

Betsy Hp:
Isn't it odd though, that knowing his father pulled pranks and served 
detention for them would bother Harry?  After everything he's heard 
about James from McGonagall, Sirius and Lupin and with the Marauders' 
Map in hand, shouldn't Harry *enjoy* pouring through records of his 
father's boyhood exploits?

I wonder if it's tied to Harry's reluctance to seek out information 
on his parents.  Maybe he's uncomfortable with the idea of seeing his 
parents as actual human beings and prefers to keep them high on their 
pedestals: untouchable and coldly perfect.  Perhaps it will be sign 
of Harry's adulthood when he's finally willing to get to know the 
real James and Lily?

I wonder how it is that Snape realized that Harry, friend of the 
Weasleys, wouldn't think too keenly of his father as a prankster? 

> >>Sherry:
> Yeah, noble guy Snape.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I actually do think Snape is a pretty noble man.  He's never struck 
me as the type to torment innocents just to get his jollies.

He's set this detention for Harry after witnessing Harry cut Draco 
open with a fairly brutal hex.  And after Harry expresses worry that 
Draco's near death will ruin Gryffindor's chances at the Quidditch 
Cup. 

And later, (after Gryffindor has won the Quidditch Cup and Harry has 
a new girlfriend) Harry seems more bothered by the time he's spending 
in detention.  So that's what Snape needles him about.

"...[Snape] was keeping Harry later and later every time, while 
making pointed asides about Harry having to miss the good weather and 
the varied opportunities it offered."  [HBP scholastic p.539]

The detention Harry is doing seems to be of the "make work" variety.  
(Does Hogwarts *really* need those old records of detentions from 
years ago?)  It seems more like something designed to make Harry 
miserable than something designed to "teach" Harry.  Snape can't beat 
empathy into Harry's head, but he can make sure that Harry remembers 
the outcome of his fight with Draco as something bad rather than 
glorious.

So I think that was more Snape's motivation than any scheme to get 
Harry to dislike James.  Just get Harry to pay attention to the fact 
that he's being punished.  That no matter how his fans spin it (and 
they *do* spin it, that very same day) what Harry did to Draco is 
causing Harry some bad times and therefore he might not want to do 
something like that again.

Betsy Hp