Hagrid and Snape

[clio44a]

No: HPFGUIDX 30890

Hi to all,
with all these newly sparked Snape discussions I think it would be an 
excellent opportunity to throw in something that I have pondered for 
a while. (Didn't find anything in the archive) It is about a scene in 
SS, when Harry complains about Snape to Hagrid, and Hagrid reacts in 
a, well, curious way.


Quote Chapter 8, SS:

Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry 
not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.
"But he seemed to really hate me."
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"
Yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid didn't quite meet his 
eyes when he said that.
"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot --
great with animals."
Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. 
[...]
As Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets
weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Harry
thought that none of the lessons he'd had so far had given him as much
to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package
just in time? Where was it now? And did Hagrid know something about
Snape that he didn't want to tell Harry?
 
 end quote

Interesting reaction from Hagrid, isn't it? Almost as if Hagrid is 
covering up for Snape. I mean Hagrid doesn't strike you as someone 
who usually is cautious with his opinions. He calls Filch an "old 
git", he makes clear that he doesn't like the Malfoys and he tells 
Harry to steer clear of the Slytherins. 
So why would he defend Snape? Even lie on his behalf (Snape does hate 
Harry, as far as we can assume from the books)? Why lie to Harry, 
whom Hagrid loves dearly? Hagrid probably even knows about Snape's 
shady DE past, and still he defends him. Why?

It almost looks like Snape *has* a good reason to hate Harry. And 
Hagrid seems not only to know about it, but also to understand Snape. 
Note that Ddore also tolerates Snapes behaviour towards Harry.

Let's assume that Hagrid really knows a reason why Snape might 
dislike Harry (other than being Harry).
What does Hagrid know about Snape, and about Snapes relationship to 
James Potter for that matter? Hagrid was around at Hogwarts when 
Snape and MWPP where there as children. I don't think Hagrid would 
defend Snape if he would hate Harry only because he is still worked 
up about that Whomping-Willow-incident. I think there must be more to 
Snape's hate of Harry than just a schoolboy grudge of MWPP. After all 
he makes a truce with Sirius, who was responsible for that prank with 
the willow. And surely Hagrid wouldn't tolerate Snape being nasty to 
his protegee Harry because of a childish feud. So why on earth does 
he obviously lie to protect Snape?

What do you think? Could there really be a  reason for Snape to hate 
Harry? And what might that be? I can't come up with anything.  
Sorry, if this was discussed before.

Clio,
 who usually lurks in the shade