First lesson WAS: Re: Marietta, was Slytherin's Reputation

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 185753

Pippin:
But can we agree that Harry was wrong in assuming that Snape
consciously wanted him to fail, just as Snape was wrong to assume that
Harry was deliberately antagonizing him? Their perceptions were
colored by previous experiences. The Dursleys did want Harry to fail,
and James did provoke Snape on purpose.

Alla:

That depends Pippin on what exact meaning you put in "Snape 
consciously wanted him to fail". If you mean that Harry was wrong 
that Snape wanted him dead, sure we can agree on that
 until 
Dumbledore ordered him to not want Harry dead anymore, that IS. If 
you mean that Snape wanted Harry to  succeed to the full of his 
potential, to be a  successful student instead of somebody who covers 
in fear when he sees Snape, then no, we cannot agree on that.

Or maybe you mean that Snape wanted Harry to fail but 
*subconsciously*? Then again we cannot agree on part of this, 
specifically I think that Snape was capable of controlling not his 
feelings about Harry, but his behavior based on that.

Pippin:
As Dumbledore says, he has no power to make men see the truth.
Threatening Snape will not make Snape see Harry any differently.

Alla:

No, but it can make Snape **behave** differently towards Harry even 
if his feelings remain the same.  I remain absolutely convinced that 
Snape would vastly prefer being in Hogwarts to NOT being in Hogwarts, 
IMO of course.

Pippin:
Dumbledore does not seem to see anything wrong with humiliating people
who actually *are* overconfident, so he wouldn't reprimand Snape for
that.

Alla:

Well, this does not earn Dumbledore any  brownie points with me and, 
I find it irrelevant, since Snape does not humiliate any 
overconfident person on that first lesson, he humiliates eleven year 
old who has very little clue about new world he arrived in. Not that 
I think again that had Harry had more confidence, he would have 
deserved that humiliation.

Pippin:
In any case, Harry's celebrity meant he could never be shielded from
public mockery. By the time he had to face Rita Skeeter, Harry could
take it in stride, unlike Hagrid who completely withdrew, or Hermione,
who embarked on a dangerous and ultimately senseless course of 
revenge.

Alla:

Harry has Snape to thank for that as well? 

JMO,

Alla