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

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 185758

> SSSusan:
> My long-argued position has been that, since Snape knew Harry was 
> potentially The Prophecy Boy, he really needed, if he was going to be 
> an effective teacher, to set aside his petty grievances and his 
> biases and his anger and resentment and MAKE SURE this kid learned 
> all that he was capable of, that he reached his full potential.  It 
> was, after all, *vital* that Propechy Boy be as prepared as possible 
> to face down Voldemort.

Montavilla47:
But didn't Snape do that?  The most objective measure we have of
Snape's methods are the results shown in the O.W.L.s.  Harry received
an E, which is the second-highest mark possible.  I can't remember 
now what marks Harry received in his classes (except that they weren't
as high as Hermione, but better than Ron's).   I do remember that
he received the O in DADA, due to the Patronus that he learned from 
Lupin (so, hooray, Lupin), but low marks in both Divination and 
History--neither of which was taught by Snape.  

Also, as people have pointed out, the spell Harry used to defeat 
Voldemort was one that Snape taught him.

And, I'm not sure that Snape knew about Harry having to face
Voldemort.  Dumbledore tells Harry that the eavesdropper (Snape)
only heard the first part of the prophecy, which might not include
the bit about "either must die at the hand of the other."

For all Snape knew, Harry might have already fulfilled the prophecy.
When Dumbledore got Snape promise to protect Harry, there was
nothing about protecting him in order to face Voldemort in the 
future.

> 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.
> 
> SSSusan:
> I think this is the first time I recall seeing this position 
> expressed.  If you are arguing that Snape was attempting to bolster 
> Harry's ability to persevere and face those who ridiculed him or 
> mocked him, then that's interesting and, indeed, a benefit.
> 
> Then again, to give Snape credit for this would require me to believe 
> that Snape knew this public mockery would be coming and that Harry 
> would need to be able to take it in stride & handle it *and* that 
> Snape's goal was to HELP him do so.  I'm not positive I can believe 
> that to be the case.

Montavilla47:
Yeah.  I think it's a stretch that Snape was simply trying to toughen
Harry up in order to prepare him for Rita.  I really think it was more
Snape thinking that Harry was going to be another James and trying
to nip what he imagined was an enormous ego in the bud.  

But the celebrity thing started before Rita came along.  All during
first year, Harry was dealing with his celebrity--first with all the 
adulation of strangers and the interest about where he'd be sorted,
then with being the youngest Seeker in a hundred years and getting
the best, most expensive  broom available (while other first-years
are not allowed to have a broom at all), and then losing 150 points
(with Hermione and Neville) for his House.  

And Harry arrived at Hogwarts well prepared to deal with public
humiliation, due to his experiences with Dudley.

And I have to agree with Magpie that Hermione is shown to have
the best response to Rita's articles.  Her "senseless" course of 
revenge it shown in the books to be clever and beneficial.  It's 
only when we apply real-world ethics to the situation that it looks
dodgy.