Harry, Snape and Dementors WAS: Re: CHAPTER Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18:

[willsonteam]

No: HPFGUIDX 189334



> 
> Alla:

>snip 
> I know I would choose the results of experiment that I conducted myself rather than what teacher would say should work and I would definitely insist on the highest grade for myself if this achieves the result teacher seeks.


Potioncat:
That implies that Harry had the opportunity to try both methods on Dementors and found Lupin's to work better.

JKR said in an interview that the Patronum charm wasn't taught at Hogwarts, so that means Lupin didn't teach it to his advanced students either. What did he teach them, do you think? Maybe the same spell Snape teaches? Or perhaps a third option?

I wanted to read the section myself before posting, but I haven't had the chance.  From the other posts, and my recollection, it seems Harry turned in  his essay and expected to marked down because he disgreed with Snape. And he probably was. Was that fair? (Would it matter to Snape whether it was fair--no.) But I can't tell you if would be fair or not. I don't know what Snape taught or why,or what the purpose of the essay was.

Some ideas have been given that I agree with about reasons Snape might not have wanted to teach the spell. (too difficult for most students--an easier and adequate spell for general wizards; not wanting to reveal his own Patronus as he is under cover and uses his for communication)I'll add that the curriculum may have required a different spell.

>From outside the book, what JKR did was to again give us reason to distrust/dislike Snape, to let us know Snape knew a different spell against Dementors, and to show that Harry was resistant to learning from Snape/was very loyal to Lupin.

And it makes me want to revisit the moments after the gang comes out of the Shrieking Shack and are attacked by Dementors while Snape is unconscious. Were we given any clues then that he knew something different?