Protecting Students

[dzturtleshell]

No: HPFGUIDX 189390



Potioncat asks: Hogwarts, at the best of times, is a dangerous place. In the years we saw it--during Harry's term and in flashbacks-- there have been extra dangers. Who do you think did a better job of protecting students--Headmaster Dumbledore or Headmaster Snape? or overall in general Professor Dumbledore or Professor Snape?

Potioncat writes:
We know that the DEs didn't bother students at Hogwarts, and only went after them at home (Luna, for example.) I think it was Snape who prevented the Carrows from killing students. Big deal you say? Knowing how easily LV killed members of his inner circle, I doubt the Carrows would have qualms about killing unfriendly students. And it appears those who kept their heads down may have been out of harms way. 

dzturtleshell responds:
I agree! Personally, I think Snape had to face much more difficult circumstances the entire time he was HM. Dumbledore never had to protect students from constant, out-in-the-open threats. Before Draco figured out how to get DEs into the building, any evil-doing you were up to had to be kept secret. When I first read DH, I started out wondering how Snape could let some of the kids get roughed up, but quickly realized that was all it was, it wasn't something worse. Also, it was the kids you would expect to cause trouble and not go along quietly, if Snape wasn't there, I'm sure much worse would have happened to them.

Food for thought, how much of that was Snape's own personal concern for the safety of the students, and how much of it was Dumbledore's portrait hanging behind Snape's desk overseeing things every day?

As for Dumbledore vs Professor Snape, I again think Snape did a little better job of actually protecting (though I really see them as more of a team). Dumbledore wants everyone protected, but he's also very curious and wants to see what everyone (esp. Harry) can handle. 
"... He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help..." - Harry, SS/PS, Chapter 17. 
Harry knew as early as his first year that Dumbledore was taking some risks to let Harry try and take care of things himself. Maybe Dumbledore lets the students protect themselves a bit, then uses Snape as a back-up parachute, and Dumbledore himself as a back-up safety net. It's a bit risky, but I think the best teaching methods are the practical ones.