Snape as Neville's teacher (was:Re: Snape as Noble teacher...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 168359

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > I totally disagree.  I think we've got the proof of the dog that 
> > *doesn't* bark (Neville's potions are no longer exploding with 
> > regularity), and the proof of the dog that *does* bark (Harry 
> > compares his own potion to Neville's and realizes that Neville's 
> > is better).  [The barking dog was a bit of Sherlock Holmes humor; 
> > I apologize for the self-indulgence. <g>]

> >>zgirnius:
> I generally agree with your position that Snape makes an effort as 
> a teacher, and does well. However, not that I doubt you, but I do   
> not recall the scene you mean. When did Harry see Neville prepare a 
> better potion than his own?

Betsy Hp:
Blech.  This is a lesson in double-checking canon before you post. 
<g>  I was incorrectly remembering the potions class in OotP, Chapter 
15.  I thought Neville's potion was closer to the right color than 
Harry's.  But nope, Harry's was better than Neville's.  ::sigh::

::Perks up:: Ah well, this just leaves the non-barking dog of 
Neville's potions not exploding anymore.  Plus there's the non-
barking dog of Neville's grades *not* shown to be terrible when 
Harry's stressing about his own Potions' grade. And that fits with 
JKR's need to be ambiguous when it comes to Snape.  The evil!Snaper's 
need *something* to cling to after all. <eg> 

> >>zgirnius:
> It always seemed to me that Neville was a student for whom Snape   
> just did not work as a teacher in a weak subject for him. (He seems 
> to do fine in DADA class, at which he is better, especially after  
> all the effort he put in fifth year).

Betsy Hp:
I *still* think Snape *does* work as a teacher for Neville in a 
particularly weak subject.  A lesser teacher would have quit on 
Neville, but Snape kept at it and Neville passed and kept on 
passing.  And all that without the added motivation of taking on the 
crazy witch who drove Neville's parents insane.

IOWs, I think the problem Neville had with Potions was the subject 
matter, not the instructor.  I'm not saying Snape was Neville's best 
teacher type, nor am I saying Snape's methodology was the *only* or 
even the best way to reach Neville.  But Snape got the job done.  And 
I'm betting taught Neville a few other things along the way.

Betsy Hp