Snape as Neville's teacher / JKR's sexy men roll call

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 168603

> >>Dana:
> > The problem is this argument is used both ways because according 
> > to many his *individual* treatment of Neville and Harry IS what   
> > is claimed to be Snape success as a teacher.
> > <snip>

> >>Shaun:
> Yes, certainly some people do make these claims. Personally, I     
> really wouldn't. Certainly not about Harry - Neville... Neville is 
> a problem for me.
> <snip>
> And the thing is, I saw Snape as failing with Neville, because I    
> felt that Neville didn't have that in him. I felt Neville was too   
> meek and mild to handle what Snape was throwing at him, and wasn't 
> the type to rise to the challenge.
> 
> But I was wrong. The Neville we see towards the end of the Order of 
> the Phoenix - the Neville with a broken nose, and somebody elses   
> wand held in his trembling hand, who injured and afraid, scrambled 
> towards the Deatheathers and tried to curse them - that Neville     
> proved me wrong.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Yay, Neville! <bg>  Honestly, IMO, Neville is the most Gryffindor of 
all the Gryffindors.

I do want to clarify (since I'm a huge Snape's a great teacher 
proponent <g>) that I *don't* think Snape's a great teacher for 
Harry.  Not that he overly harms Harry all that much, IMO (and 
relatively speaking), but there is too much personal there.  It's 
sort of like how many teachers try and avoid having their own 
children in their classroom because they fear being either too soft 
or too hard.  Snape has a strong personal background with Harry, and 
it will out.  Frankly, his misjudgment of Harry in their very first 
class together illustrated that issue perfectly, IMO.

However, I *do* think Snape is a good teacher for Neville.  I agree 
that Neville's own personal strength is easily overlooked.  (Frankly, 
I think Neville himself overlooks it.)  But we see it displayed in 
PS/SS when he willingly stands up against his friends.  Oh, and also 
when he takes on Crabbe and Goyle all by himself (something Harry 
never does).

I know much is made of Snape being Neville's boggart.  That this is 
seen as proof that Snape has emotionally terrorized the poor boy.  
But the thing is, Neville rather handily defeats his Snape boggart.  
On the very first try.  Which to me suggests Neville's made of 
sterner stuff.

And I think Snape does recognize that on some level otherwise he 
wouldn't ride Neville as hard.  He's very obviously *not* out to 
break the boy, IMO, since he ignores the weapons so conventiently 
close to hand (the very weapons Fake!Moody uses so gleefully).  So I 
do think Snape's sole purpose is to get Neville through Potions.  
Which, I believe (more grr towards JKR for not giving us Neville's 
Potion's grade) Snape does.  At the very least, Neville makes it to 
his OWLs.  Something I think Neville doubted he'd be able to do.  
(Honestly, I think Neville went through a period of doubting he even 
belonged in Hogwarts.)

Betsy Hp