About Slytherin....

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 187982

> Carol, noting that Phineas's attitude changes when the headmaster he's sworn to serve is fellow Slytherin Severus Snape
>

Montavilla47:

It's possible that Snape, having been in Slytherin for seven years and headed it for 15 years is better at dealing with Phineas than Dumbledore.

I had always thought that Dumbledore was great in dealing with people, but after DH, I'm not so sure.  In the Prince's Tale, we discover that Dumbledore's hold over Snape isn't that Dumbedore provides something that Snape needed emotionally or psychologically, but that he demanded total servitude when Snape was desperate.  Then we see that he's spectacularly bad at showing his appreciation. (Sorted too soon? Sheesh.)