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

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 185866

Montavilla47:
> Guess how much it matters which one he belongs to.  Not one bit. 
Either way, it's a big disruption to the school. something that
Dumbledore specifically tried to avoid, and, the I figure it, Snape
senses that the sooner it's dealt with, the better.

Carol responds:
I agree. Regardless of Snape's motivation (which may have been to
prevent him from becoming an arrogant berk but we don't know) or the
effects of fame on Harry's ego (which could have been disastrous but
weren't because he isn't James), the overall effect of Harry's
deflated celebrity status is all to the good, IMO. The last thing
Harry needs is teachers falling off chairs in adoration (thnk goodness
he quickly showed Flitwick that he was no Charms Prince) and other
students following him around begging for autographs (as they did krum
in GoF). One Colin Creevey is sufficient for a lifetime, and
fortunately for Harry, he encounters that one in CoS, after the
initial effects of his (unearned) celebrity have worn off and the
students in his year, at least, have learned that, except at
Quidditch, he's no better at magic than they are. If he were as
naturally gifted (and studious) as Hermione (but not "an insufferable
know-it-all"), Snape would probably have dealt with him differently,
probably turning to a different student for answers to the second and
third questions and certainly not accusing Harry of not opening his
books. (As it is, he can't tell Herbology from Potions, evidently. He
wouldn't have found anything on Bezoars in "1001 Magical Herbs and
Fungi." And, until they suspect him of being the Heir of Slytherin in
CoS, the other students aren't expecting anything more exciting from
him than some good flying and spectacular catches. And the teachers
don't have unrealistic standards of performance from him, either.)

And, BTW, Geoff, I agree with you that Harry doesn't like fame and
wants to be just Harry, but he has to deal with its vicissitudes,
nonetheless, throughout the series. It helps that at least some of the
students (those in his year and some of those in his House) know that,
despite his scar and his history, he's just like them in many ways.
Imagine if the Weasleys (other than Ginny) treated him as a celebrity
instead of part of the family of if he'd been raised as a "pampered
prince" instead of by the Dursleys. Dumbeledore was right to keep him
away from fame until he could deal with it.

Geoff:
> It matters to Harry. It matters very seriously to Harry.

> The fact that it is a disruption to the school is a **different**
matter and I'm not sure Snape should be interfering without
Dumbledore's say so.

> He is letting his hatred of James colour his interaction with Harry
as he continues to do so throughout the books.

Carol responds:
I can't see that Snape's "our new celebrity" lesson has any serious
ill effects on Harry (other than, as we keep repeating, to make a good
teacher/student relationship impossible and to cause Harry to suspect
Snape of evils of which he's not guilty.

But as for Snape interfering without Dumbledor's say so, Dumbledore
gives Snape a free hand, only suggesting at one point that Snape is
seeing what he expects to see (which is also true for Harry's view of
Snape). But as Alla pointed out, Dumbledore's explanation that Snape
saved Harry from Quirrell so that he could go back to hating James in
peace makes matters worse, not better. Harry thinks (as does Lupin)
that Snape's behavior toward Sirius Black stems from SWM and the
so-called Prank when in fact (as we learn in DH) his behavior stems
from his love for Lily (whom he thinks that Black betrayed to her
death). Dumbledore plays the same card in OoP when he explains Snape's
cancellation of the Occlumency lessons on Snape's inability to stop
hating James (not a word about Harry not minding his own business or
the lessons not working anyway because Harry wanted to have that
dream). Before anyone protests, I understand perfectly that blaming
Harry--or pointing out his share of the blame--would have been the
wrong strategy for dealing with a very angry and recently bereaved
boy, but Harry was looking for a scapegoat and Snape made a convenient
one. To bring up Snape's hatred of James as if it were the only reason
for abandoning the lessons (which Snape would have had to resume if
Dumbledore ordered him to do so) just rubbed salt into the wound.

I think that Dumbledore is using Snape's hatred of James for his own
purposes, one of which is to conceal Snape's real motive for helping
and protecting Harry. All the better for the DEs and Voldemort (when
he returns) to think--or know, if you prefer--that Snape hates Harry.
it's a lot easier for Snape to hide his protecting (and teaching) of
Harry that way.

The bezoar lesson took--eventually. The Expelliarmus lesson took
immediately. And even if the Occlumency lessons didn't take, at least
Harry learned what Occlumency and Legilimency are, which prepared him
to understand what was happening when Voldemort entered Grindelwald's
head.

Carol, who thinks that Harry's perspective in SS/PS is incomplete and
prevents us from seeing Snape (and Dumbledore) whole