[HPforGrownups] Re: Slughorn favoritism/ Snape as Neville's teacher LONG

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 168584

> Alla:
>
> Yeah, funnily that is what I thought about Snape's actions after book
> 1. That he honorably tried to pay off the debt which existed only in
> his mind ( sorry if this does not reflect your position - I am
> summarizing what used to be mine and it reads to me as close to what
> you just said).
>
> I don't know anymore, frankly. Even forgetting about what I consider
> to be Snape's evil deeds, I think it is really, really open to Dana
> interpretation too, if I read it correctly as what Neri does.

Magpie:
I do see the possibility of the other reading too, that Snape and Peter had 
the same sort of Life Debt. I just think Dumbledore also explains Snape's 
actions in an understandable way psychologically. (And of course there's the 
added question of how Harry figures into a Life Debt with James.)

>> Alla:
>> If he ignored them, did not give them as much
>> attention as he gives Draco, while still grading fairly which I
>> believe Slughorn does, it would have bothered me much less.
>>
>> Magpie:
>> Actually, I don't know whether Slughorn grades fairly. <SNIP>
>
> Alla:
>
> But we **see** Snape grading unfairly, we can only **assume** that
> Slugghorn does not grade fairly, no? Which is fair assumption, but I
> think that we have the stronger evidence for Snape not grading
> fairly. IMO.

Magpie:
We do have one isolated incident of Snape giving Harry a zero when he 
doesn't deserve one and we don't have anything of the kind for Slughorn.

> Alla:
> Where I differ I suspect ( I can be wrong) is I also think that
> Slughorn does not want just **any** people in the position of power.
> He wants talented, skilled, gifted, pick your word kids in the
> position of power, who will of course remember his networking skills.
> IMO of course. And yes, I think Lily is here for a very good reason.
> I mean, she is so far the example of sainthood, no? And Slugghorn
> liked her, wanted her to succeeded, to be in his collection, etc?

Magpie:
 He picks people on the train because he thinks they've got things that 
might bring them power to begin with--usually due to their family 
connections, because family connections are likely to lead to riches and 
success because they already have a leg up.  (Crabbe and Goyle are the 
children of DEs. Can't have them. Though if they had been invited they 
probably would have wound up with an experience similar to Neville, who is 
not rejected based on his lack of skill) Sometimes he spots a Muggleborn who 
catches his fancy--they have to work extra hard not because he's looking for 
skill but because he assumes that Pure-bloods are better.

McClaggen understands how the Slug Club is supposed to work when he 
approaches Harry for the Quidditch team, assuming that Harry's going to put 
him on because they're both Slug Club members, when he's not in the Slug 
Club for Quidditch talent. Most members we've seen are there first and 
foremost because of the people they're related to (though they will be 
dismissed if something else counters that). Sometimes Slughorn also includes 
other people that catch his eye and that he likes.

It's very hard for me not to see Slughorn very much reflecting attitudes 
that have been seen as damaging in the real world, both in terms of his club 
and the way he subtly and not-so-subtly encourages and discourages kids 
based on his own questionable beliefs. I don't think it's a coincidence that 
so many of his former Sluggies became DEs (he shares their beliefs in 
Pure-blood superiority)--and I think he can express horror at the idea that 
Snape being one when "he taught him" because he never examines himself very 
closely. His first conversation with Harry about blood might sound good 
compared to the Malfoy's rhetoric, but I think if you translated it into 
real world terms he'd have trouble coming across as anything but part of the 
problem.

-m