Sadism or not ? McGonagall and her punishments

[jkoney65]

No: HPFGUIDX 186644

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> Pippin:
>snip>  
> 
> Also, I am confused about the objection to Neville's punishment. He made a list of passwords, which was an obvious and flagrant breach of security, presumably because he didn't like having to wait for someone else  to let him in. His punishment forced him to do just that, so I find it very appropriate. 
> 
> Neville must have taken the list outside Gryffindor Tower, even though he didn't lose it there, or he would have known that it must have been stolen from inside. And for that, IMO, he deserved what he got. 
> 
> It may be cruel to humiliate students, but it's hardly unusual at Hogwarts. What Harry doesn't like is that Snape so obviously enjoys what he's doing. If Snape had looked sorrowful like Dumbledore or even angry, the way McGonagall does, Harry probably wouldn't mind nearly so much, and might have spoken up for himself more effectively on the occasions when he thought Snape was mistaken.  But he thinks that Snape is only doing it to gratify himself and isn't actually interested in improving Harry's behavior at all.  I think the Prince's Tale shows that is not the case.
> 
> Pippin
>
jkoney:
I'm also confused about the objection to Neville's punishment. Let the punishment fit the crime. He was not responsible enough to learn the passwords, then it appears that he wrote them down and lost them. They've already had someone try to break into to the tower. Security is of the upmost importance. There is suspected mad man, a killer on the loose. 

He was not given the passwords because he had shown that he wasn't responsible enough to handle it from the teachers point of view.

I don't think the Prince's tale actually shows us that Snape is doing things to improve Harry's behavior. In fact when asked Snape shows that he is still doing it for Lilly. He doesn't care at all for Harry. In fact he seems more upset that he spent all this time trying to protect Harry (in his own way) only to find out that Harry has to die anyway.