LJ-versary :: PoA 7
May. 6th, 2004 10:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
On May 6, 2003, I made my first post to LJ. I joined at the urging of the good people at
haremxf, and soon discovered the infinite carnival midway that is LJ HP fandom. Since then I've met hundreds of fans, befriended many, quarrelled with a few, and admired many more from afar.
Sometimes I feel like a naive farmboy coming to New York City. This fandom is bigger and louder and brighter than anything I've ever seen online. Sometimes it's too much. But most of the time, I just plain feel lucky to be a part of it. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. ;)
*hugs fandom*
Eeew... sticky. *brushes himself off*
*
PoA 7: The Boggart in the Wardrobe
This is a well-done scene. We keep up on other plot threads while the Snape-Neville interaction is set up so that the Boggart scene will be effective without any need for exposition.
This is an important turning point for Neville's character, but the real conflict is the power struggle between Snape and Lupin. We already know Snape hates Lupin (72), and now we see him trying to exert power over Lupin's class. Lupin fights back in kind, undermining the power Snape has over his own students, and does it in such a way that Snape has no real recourse. As usual, Lupin is calm and polite -- the same defense he used to show his students he wasn't shaken by Peeves's taunting (99), a potentially rattling reminder of his school days.
Previous re-read posts are saved in memories here.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
Sometimes I feel like a naive farmboy coming to New York City. This fandom is bigger and louder and brighter than anything I've ever seen online. Sometimes it's too much. But most of the time, I just plain feel lucky to be a part of it. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. ;)
*hugs fandom*
Eeew... sticky. *brushes himself off*
*
PoA 7: The Boggart in the Wardrobe
Ron had spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal pieces. (95)It's struck me before that Ron doesn't seem to do too badly in Potions or particularly incite Snape's wrath (except as a Gryffindor in general), and here he's being more careful than I would have expected. He does hate Snape on behalf of Harry, but he still tries hard in his class.
'Of course, if it was me,' he said quietly, '[...]I'd be out there looking for [Black].'How much does Ron know, here? I can't remember if he seems surprised when Harry finds out what Sirius did, but it reads here like he's trying to protect Harry from the truth.
'What are you talking about, Malfoy?' said Ron roughly. (96)
'What did Malfoy mean?' [...]
'He's making it up,' said Ron, savagely, 'he's trying to make you do something stupid...' (97)
This is a well-done scene. We keep up on other plot threads while the Snape-Neville interaction is set up so that the Boggart scene will be effective without any need for exposition.
'Good afternoon,' he said. 'Would you please put all your books back in your bags. [...]' (99)From the moment he enters the classroom, Lupin is nothing but collected and competent. Another possible suggestion that he's taught before.
'Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear.' (100)In case anyone still had doubts on whether Snape picks on Neville above the other kids. Lupin, of course, perceives this immediately and comes up with a way for Neville to take back control of the situation. It doesn't seem likely that he planned the Drag!Boggart!Snape in advance.
This is an important turning point for Neville's character, but the real conflict is the power struggle between Snape and Lupin. We already know Snape hates Lupin (72), and now we see him trying to exert power over Lupin's class. Lupin fights back in kind, undermining the power Snape has over his own students, and does it in such a way that Snape has no real recourse. As usual, Lupin is calm and polite -- the same defense he used to show his students he wasn't shaken by Peeves's taunting (99), a potentially rattling reminder of his school days.
'He seems a very good teacher,' said Hermione approvingly. 'But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart--' (106)Why didn't he let her, I wonder?
Previous re-read posts are saved in memories here.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-07 10:21 am (UTC)I'm quite tempted by this argument, Neville really is an easy target and it's a typical bullying approach. On the other hand I have wondered if there is perhaps something which goes further back, perhaps to Neville's parents. At least one of them was an auror (I think there's some debate as to whether they both were) and possibly something happened that has made Snape bitter towards the family in general - and of course, that wouldn't be like him, would it?!
I think Snape can be a bit of a show off too, or perhaps I should say, he likes attention - losing the Order of Merlin was obviously a huge disappointment and in OoTP there's a reference to a large group of witches and wizards in the hall at Grimmauld Pl. with Snape in the middle. He is quite dramatic with his swirling/swishing robes and he's never far from the action when something happens. I get the feeling that the Snape/Lupin exchange in the staffroom is a similar thing; Snape is showing off as well as treating Lupin as the new start still - in a 'let me help a little, I know these children better' kind of way.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-07 11:04 am (UTC)It's also interesting in view of OotP, since young!Snape doesn't appear to be a dramatic person -- he doesn't go looking for attention, he just wants to be left alone.
On the other hand, if we take what Sirius and Remus say at face-value, Snape also followed them around and tried to get them in trouble. He's arguably doing this in the Pensieve scene, sitting near them to watch what they're doing.
Hm. This is very interesting.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-07 11:21 am (UTC)Sorry, this is a bit OT but this particular bit of the memory scene intrigues me. Snape outwardly appears to want to be alone, engrossed as he is in his exam paper and sitting in the shade by himself. I find it odd (and sad) that he doesn't leave the exam with friend/s or a group of Slytherins. He is very much alone follwing the exam when usually, everyone wants to quiz each other about answers (I *hate* that!). So then, *why* does he follow the Gryffindors? He's asking for trouble - although demonstrates his spying prowess by appearing to wander casually to a quiet spot by the lake but is presumably quite aware of who he is following....
no subject
Date: 2004-05-07 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 06:10 am (UTC)Wait, no, that doesn't work. Foiled again!
I think Snape was just there because he was so absorbed in the paper he didn't realize what he was doing. And it is interesting, as someone mentioned, that no Slytherins showed up to defend him.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 07:11 am (UTC)Oh, he certainly wants attention (and affection). However, he does seem to take second (or third or whatever place is *last*) when it comes to Dumbledore who seems to be his main source of attention.
It's not surprising that he's developed a "If I can't make them care, I'll least make them *notice*!" attitude about it all. Which makes life hell for his students and anyone else who gets his way when he's on a tear...
no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 06:31 am (UTC)of Neville was just Snape's outburst at his incompetence? Snape seems to me one of those perfectionist teachers who can't tolerate sloppiness. So he picks on Harry because he has a grudge, but he picks on Neville because Neville's just a bad student and Snape doesn't realize his bullying is making it worse? Or maybe (is this canon? It's probably fanon, but fanon's just interpretation too, isn't it? :) ) there's the idea that Snape bullies Harry to try to prove that he is/isn't just the same as James, after all. And that if Neville doesn't learn to pull himself together he's got no chance of surviving. Tough love, Snape style. :P