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

[jules]

No: HPFGUIDX 189371


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> > Alla:
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> > I remember some of your examples and forgot some, however I would not call ANY of your examples as method of fighting dementors. So we are working from different understanding of what fighting them means. Read on.
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> Pippin:
> We seem to be working from a different understanding of the idioms. I don't think you will find many English speakers who agree that "best" ever means "only". As Potioncat says, strictly speaking it ought to mean at least three things are being compared. Even colloquially, no one who said, "This is the best restaurant in New York" would be taken as implying there was only one. 

Julie:
My assumption from Harry's mention of disagreeing with Snape on the "best" way to fight Dementors was that two or more methods were actually brought up in class. So I agree completely, Pippin. I don't know whether Snape brought up Patronuses (Patronii?) or Harry did, but if they disagreed then the method must have come up. 

And given Harry's attitude in Sixth Year, I'm going with Harry bringing it up. Perhaps when Snape was discussing his "best" method of fighting Dementors, Harry said (respectfully, of course--heh!) "That's still not as good as using a Patronus. Why don't you teach us that?" 

To which Snape may have replied, "Conjuring a Patronus is highly advanced magic, which is why we do not teach it at Hogwarts. And while it is a successful method when a wizard or witch has both the skill and the nerve to actually produce one, teaching something the majority of you will never be able to accomplish is hardly the best way to prepare you to survive a Dementor attack." 

Okay, it is more likely Snape said, "Should the unimaginable moment ever arrive when I desire *your* opinion, Mr. Potter, I shall certainly request it. Until then, five points from Gryffindor for interrupting my lecture."

But it still makes sense that several methods of repelling Dementors were offered, or even considered in combination (think happy thoughts, run for cover, shoot off giggling spells, or whatever...). Otherwise there wouldn't be a "best" method to highlight. 

Julie, who thought it was too bad we never heard what grade Harry actually got on his Dementor essay (as wouldn't it have been ironic if Harry had written out a well-reasoned and researched essay on a subject he was quite passionate about--which might be a first for him considering his typical study habits--and Snape actually recognized that quality essay with a quality grade?)