Snape, Snape, Snape--favorite moments (Re: Snape's involvement in the...)

[sylviampj]

No: HPFGUIDX 169354

Carol:
>..... his refusal to cooperate
> with Umbridge followed by an ironic bow when she puts him on
> probation (and literally saving Neville's neck on his way out);...


Many critics refer to Snape's cruelty as a teacher as one proof that
he is one of the bad guys but I think that one thing we learn from
Professor Umbridge is what a really cruel teacher is like. Yes,
Snape is sharp-tongued, malicious, spiteful and sometimes very
unfair, particularly to Harry and his friends, but he is very
competent, respected by his pupils and never physically abusive. In
one year at Hogwarts Professor Umbridge shows that she is stupid,
incompetent and capricious. She is also extremely abusive, gives the
students sadistic punishments and tries to give Harry veritaserum
(forbidden) and also attempts to put the cruciatus curse on him.
Snape once says that he wishes he could give Harry veritaserum, but
that it is forbidden by school rules. He gives Harry several
detentions, but never once gives him any kind of physical
punishment. By the end of her year at Hogwarts Umbridge is hated and
despised by almost every pupil in school but there is no sense that
Snape is particularly unpopular, feared perhaps but not hated.
And yet Sirius says that Dolores Umbridge is definitely not on LV's
side. If Snape really was still on the dark side would he not be
more cruel than Umbridge?

As regards Spinner's End, it's important to remember that Bellatrix
is also an accomplished occlumens since Snape refers in HBP to Draco
having lessons from his aunt Bellatrix.  So presumably she is also a
legilemens. This in my opinion is why Snape spends some time looking
out of the window at Spinner's End. We know that legilemency depends
on eye contact and I don't think he wants to make eye contact with
Bellatrix while he is gathering his thoughts and trying to think
quickly.

As you can gather I am on the side of those who think Snape is a
good guy! Roll on July because I cannot stand the suspense much
longer!

Sylvia.