Oh thanks.  I just couldn't resist, especially since it fit so perfectly in with my scene of drunken students!!

Well, Hermione IS a prefect and she has a responsibility to keep her charges safe, so you could see where the dilemma lies. She takes her duties very seriously. Also, where do you draw the line at  keeping secrets that could endanger your friends' health, or even their lives. Sometimes you have to balance out a perceived loyalty with what is in the best interest of all concerned. Sometimes, the two just don't go hand in hand and then you have to make a difficult decision.

Yeah, Severus was quite patient with Harry, well as patient as Severus is capable of.  He did very well. I'm quite proud of Sev!  Although, inside he was seething.  Severus sent Harry to be because he didn't trust himelf not to thrash the living daylights out of him, and he doesn't want to turn into his father.  It took iron control not to give Harry a hiding! Oh, and if anyone could figure out a way to administer CP on a seventeen year old, I think that Snape would have figured out a way!  No, Snape, although furious, used all his self-discipline to control his anger.

Yes, Severus wants to really make sure that Harry understands fully the consequences of alcohol abuse. Although it pleases Severus that Harry might abstain from abusing alcohol, Severus doesn't want that to be the sole reason that Harry abstains from drinking. He wants Harry to really understand why he is so against it. It is not enough that obeys just to appease Severus. For the lesson to sink in, Harry has to understand that, as you said, alcoholism destroyed Severus' life, and his mothers. For that matter, it destroyed Tobias'.  Severus doesn't want Harry to believe that it is just a control issue, with Severus issuing commands, and Harry obeying. He wants Harry to see that he really cares about him, and wants to save him from a painful future.

You are absolutely right about the Howlers.  Although many others received Howlers, and they did echo throughout the Great Hall, those in the vicinity of the Gryffindor Table, would have been able to hear Molly's loud shrill over the others. Yeah, Harry is very thankful that Severus is a private man and prefers to ream Harry out in private because Ron was mortified, as were the other miscreants who were publicly reprimanded! 

Both Severus and Harry are in for a difficult time facing harsh realities and painful pasts.

I think that Snape was a little tough with Harry, but not cruel, and yeah, it's going to be rough for Snape to relive his worst memories.

Thanks,

Thanks, I just couldn't resist with that scene. It was one of my favourite parts of the movie. I  hope that everyone will get a little chuckle out of that.

Yeah, definitely McGonagall over Snape.  That man can be scary when he's in a snit, but when he quietly fuming, he's downright dangerous. It's all that black I think!

Severuse feels like he's failed Harry, but  he knows that with their history, it might be hard for Harry to really take Severus advice, because Severus feels that Harry may not respect him, or his opinions.  That is not the case at al, strangely enough, but it's how Severus perceives the whole situation. You are right, Harry just wanted to be a teenager and have fun, and he let his friends talk him into doing something that he knew that Severus would disapprove of. I think that in normal circumstances, that at seventeen, after having years of guidance from your parents, you would either take the lessons and values they have given you and use them to fall back on when you're not sure what to do and faced with peer pressure, or you cave in. Harry's had no such lessons, and still manages to be morally strong, yet when it comes to pleasing his friends, his resolve crumbles.  Like you said, he never had any friends before coming to Hogwarts and craves their approval, and is afraid to do anything to hurt that friendship.

I think that Severus and Harry are going to be having many more conversations from now on. I think that they've hit a milestone, and they're relationship has taken a new turn.  I think that, as strange as it may sound, that this incident may turn out to be a positive turning point in their relationship. As angry as Snape was with Harry, he kept his cool and handled the situation as if he'd been a parent all along. He's floundering, but when Harry saw how, though Severus was firm, he wasn't cruel and put a lot of thought into what he said to Harry. I think that Severus' apology and admittance that he was uncertain how to be a father, really got through to Harry.  Yeah, the punishment sucks, but it was something that a parent does when they care about their children, and I think that Harry , after seeing his friend's parents reactions, realises that Snape is just reacting like a normal father would when his kid screws up, and that just makes Harry see Snape in a new light.

Even if Hermiione and Ginny went to the teachers, I think that I can understand why they would, particularly Hermione. Aftre all, she's a Prefect and has a responsibility to all the students that she takes very seriously. She is torn between loyalty to her friends and possible serious repercussions should one of the younger students gets too drunk or stoned.  This is a very dangerous combination.  She doesn't want to be responsible if anything should happen.

 She might have been willing to take a chance that when Harry and Ron are sober enough, that they woud be mature enough to realise that her first responsibility was the safety of the students. Ron is not known for his maturity however. It might take him longer to forgive.

Thanks Kristeh. I'll try not to make it too long.