[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 14: Snape's grudge

[Shelley]

No: HPFGUIDX 190076


> 2. Were Harry and Ron extremely foolish and selfish not to reveal the hidden
> passageway to Hogwart's staff, especially to Dumbledore?
> Potioncat:
> Yep. Lupin is even worse not to tell DD.

Shelley:
I don't like the way this question is worded, because it's slanted to 
lead you to a conclusion- that the action WAS extremely foolish and 
stupid. In reality, they were guarding a treasure- one they had just 
discovered and then didn't want to be taken away before they get to play 
with it properly. It's like Harry's broom that gets stolen from him 
immediately before he gets the chance to test it out- it's that same 
sort of injustice. The question here is whether they were right to guard 
that treasure, or should they have been willing to give it up at great 
sacrifice to themselves. As kids, I think they are very real in that 
they don't want to give it up, and simply say nothing about it. It was 
an action a kid would do!

Dumbledore, on the other hand, KNOWS that there are mysteries about the 
castle that haven't been fully explored- his fine bathroom in the middle 
of the night when he needed one the most, for one, since he can't seem 
to find it again. He's asking a student to fill him in on another oddity 
that he himself hadn't discovered yet, when he should have figured those 
extra entrances and exits out when Harry's parents were still attending 
school and he knew they were up to something at night.

The kids weren't extremely foolish, nor were they selfish, per se, they 
were just being kids and wanted the chance to use what they had found 
before having it taken away from them permanently. They may have 
intended to tell Dumbledore eventually, but I think he knew they weren't 
being 100% forthcoming, and he was ok with that. He's not mean like 
Snape who would have openly accused them of lying- instead he seems to 
understand why they are just being kids, and adjusts for it.

Now we come to Lupin, who is a teacher, and has a duty and obligation to 
protect ALL of the students- if they as students knew about this secret 
exit, then it's likely that Voldemort did too, and that is far more 
troubling that he didn't tell Dumbledore than the kids not telling. The 
focus in this book is the threat from Sirius, but in reality, Voldemort 
should have been the larger concern for Lupin to come clean with Dumbledore.
> 7. Both Snape and Lupin tell Harry he is selfish in going to Hogsmeade when
> everyone else is putting themselves out to ensure his safety. Why does Harry
> resent hearing this from Snape but feels chastened when he hears it from Lupin?
Shelley:
Snape never came off as Harry's friend. He's always "above" Harry, he's 
always trying to belittle Harry and put him in his place. He could tell 
the truth to Harry about it being for his own good, and it would get 
rejected as Snape trying to control him again. This is one case where 
Snape's hard nose attitude toward Harry backfires on him. Lupin, on the 
other hand, has some sympathy for Harry, and his sensitivity shows 
through. It's this relationship difference that makes Harry want to 
listen to Lupin, because Harry feels that Lupin will listen back when 
Harry wants to talk. An open door makes all the difference in the world 
to a kid that is hurting, as Harry is being an orphan at a time when 
everyone keeps reminding him that his parents were killed.