Folly, Part NIne
Snape’s life has been a series of spectacular errors of judgment, to put it kindly.
This has to have been his worst.
Chapter Summary: The headmaster can be very persuasive.
“He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently transgressed, but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his conduct ( Read more... )
This has to have been his worst.
Chapter Summary: The headmaster can be very persuasive.
“He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently transgressed, but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his conduct ( Read more... )
Oh, Albus. Just reasonable enough to be all the more chilling. "Keep your kid safer in hiding" but no "so sorry, I know it's hard to meet him only to give him up to strangers." Entirely a practical puzzle to him. No human feeling at all for the poor kid.
And oh yes, the disorienting realization that for all Albus says Muggles shouldn't be abused for sport, he doesn't actually, you know, chat them up or hang out with them like they're regular people. The idea that Albus isn't the opposite of Voldemort at all, only a relatively "nicer" authority figure with a place in the legitimate power structure, has to be world-shattering. A point along a spectrum of opinion on just how inferior Muggles are and what should be done about them, and a more delicate manner of handling subordinates. (Actually the realization that DE attitudes are just a hop-skip-and-a-jump down the path from mainstream wizarding opinion can't be far behind, once you get to that point. Which is also pretty horrifying. Raise kids to be primed to fall for ( ... )
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But maybe they're trying to bribe Harry into good behavior at this point? Pocket money every week he doesn't do anything "funny" and finishes a few chores. Getting to watch cartoons so long as they watch the ones Dudley prefers. Maybe he is allowed to play with any kids who come over to the Dursleys' (where Petunia can supervise). Dudley and his friends start shoving Harry around, and BAM! No more playdates. Too risky. A few more "funny" incidents once he starts school the next year, and no more pocket money either.
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And, yes, we know that Petunia's perception was that Lily was favored, and that she remembers "pranks" that to her were terrifying and mortifying and repulsive, not funny.
(I admit a teacup turning into a rat--anything, really, but a filthy rat!--presumably while I was about to drink from it--would be pretty traumatic. C.f. Ron and The Spider Incident.)
And yes, I agree, I can't think it an accident that both sisters married bullies.
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Like Ron, I once had a beloved pet rat (not, fortunately, a disguised fugitive from justice), but I too would have been traumatized if my teacup had turned into one. It's one thing to examine a rat from a safe distance and decide that it's adorable and you want it to nestle on your shoulder, and quite another to have a scrabbly little thing sprung upon you--right in your face, clawing at you and gnashing its teeth in the direction of your eyeballs--with no warning!
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Yes, that's what I intended Sev to see--if not Albus to intend to reveal. And it's certainly disorienting.
INTERESTING points on Harry--I'll have to think about them.
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