To think Slytherins stand no chance?

[LeopardSpots1]

Just caught the end of the Philosopher’s Stone and I felt sorry for the Slytherins being stripped of the House Cup because of last minute points being awarded to Harry and friends. Their colours are changed and everything, I think it’s cruel.

No wonder so many of them turn out bad, they’re treated like villains from 11!

Currently rereading the series - I'm on HP&COS atm. Also a self-confirmed Slytherin!
I think JKR realised as she got further into the series that she had made the Slytherin house one-dimensionally evil (eg. Salazar Slytherin creating the Chamber of Secrets and putting a basilisk in there for his heir to kill (?) all the muggle-borns and half-bloods with?!) She then made some, if not good, then reformed characters Slytherin - Slughorn, Tonks, Regulus Black.
I do have a question, if anyone can answer - in HP&TPS, Snape actively tries to prevent Quirrell getting to the philosopher's stone (when Quirrell releases the troll into the dungeon (again, how?!), Snape realises it's to create a diversion and heads to the third floor, and is subsequently hurt by Fluffy.) Does Voldemort ever punish Snape for this? Or is it just forgotten about?!

There doesn't seem to be a consistent points system but then I imagine that's true of most schools

Snape's personality is shaped by the bullying he received from James Potter, Sirius Black etc. It's reflective of how children react to this. His love for Lily never wavered - I believe he loves Harry in a way and Dumbledore persuaded him to be mean to keep the cover for Voldemort

Gersemi

you can't seriously suggest Harry was in the wrong for breaking school rules in order to bring Voldemort down.

First its a book. Its not a serious discussion.

Second, not everything he did was about Voldemort.

Third, he and his friends are given a huge amount of freedom that the other students are not.

Frankly if I were at school with him I would consider him to be an arsehole of the highest order and the same of those teachers that favoured him.

Snape ended up being good, but he was hardly nice!

shakeyourcaboose
Don't get me started on that! Two pretty rich boys from pure blood families bullying a not so attractive half blood who's from a seriously deprived background, suffering from neglect and quite possibly abuse? I wanna slap those two! I know Sirius' family were awful, but James had no excuse. It was no wonder Severus became a messed up adult. (My opinion may be biased because of my own experiences at school, I was 14 when I first read Order Of The Pheonix.)

FilthyforFirth And yet plenty of us do! I suppose there's no accounting for taste.

He is allowed that type of freedom so that he can end up able to do what he needs to do in the last book. The rest of the books are a bit trial by fire. Let's face it, Dumbledore could've intervened and defeated the numerous threats himself. He's supposed to be a great wizard, but allowing Harry to fight,form bonds(even by breaking school rules) etc. is how Harry can confidently leave school in search of the last horcrux and ultimately sacrifice himself.

I do have a question, if anyone can answer - in HP&TPS, Snape actively tries to prevent Quirrell getting to the philosopher's stone (when Quirrell releases the troll into the dungeon (again, how?!), Snape realises it's to create a diversion and heads to the third floor, and is subsequently hurt by Fluffy.) Does Voldemort ever punish Snape for this? Or is it just forgotten about?

It's explained in the books - Snape tells Voldemort and the other Death Eaters that he didn't realise that Voldemort had returned at that point, and he just thought it was Quirrel being over ambitious.

Third, he and his friends are given a huge amount of freedom that the other students are not

Wasn't he pretty much prophesied as the one who would finally bring Voldemort down? I thought that's why he had the freedom he did, so he was able to fulfil his prophecy.

I dont care what anyone says, but Snape is a dick. He did everything he did out of love for Lilly, true, but he also worked for the man responsible for killing many, many others and couldn't have cared less. He watched families torn apart and didn't bat an eyelid. He only swapped to look out for his own interests (protecting Lilly). You know he would have happily handed James and Harry over to V if it kept Lilly safe. He was not a good person.