Snape as Harry's protector (Was: Snape/Harry/Sirius Nov 1, 1981

[anavenc]

No: HPFGUIDX 31019

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "heathernmoore" <heathernmoore at y...> wrote:

>  It doesn't matter whether the prophecy is objectively accurate: 
Voldemort is after Harry again, Severus is magically bound to help 
protect him.

An interesting theory, Heather. I also suspect that Snape might be one 
of Harry's guardians.  In one of the books Harry, pondering on Snape's 
nasty attitude, has a sarcastic thought that Snape is less likely to 
do something nice(?) (can't remember what) than "adopt Harry".  Maybe, 
this phrase of Snape adopting Harry is a hint of a magical bond 
between these two which might be revealed in the later books.

I have one question, though.

Why the role of Snape as Harry's protector is not revealed to Harry 
by, say, Dumbledore ?  I know, it is a great plot device. :) But apart 
from that?
Throughout all four books Harry and Snape continue to misunderstand 
each other, in GoF with fatal consequences.  Had Harry trusted Snape 
instead of the fake Moody, had he told Snape whom he had seen in 
Snape's office, Crouch Jr. probably would  have been caught in time, 
Voldemort would not have risen again and Cedric would not have died. 
:(

So, why Dumbledore let all that happen?  Clearly, Snape's mission as  
Harry's protector must have been kept secret because of different 
reasons, (one of them--Snape possibly being a spy with DE?), but it 
seems that Harry not knowing about Snape being his guardian undermined 
Snape's efforts to save Harry to great extent.

 When I think of all the times Snape turned up when Harry was up to 
some rule-breaking, I can imagine Snape's frustration: difficult to 
protect somebody, who always sneaks down forbidden coridors, runs away 
to Hogsmeade using secret passages, always is at a wrong place at a 
wrong time, always seems to be plotting something  and generally 
attracts all kinds of trouble.
Maybe Snape's infamous threat to feed Harry Veritasserum is the cry of 
desperation: I NEED to know what you are up to, so that I could get 
some control of the situation.

Of course, Harry's mistrust of Snape is the result of Snape's nasty 
classroom attitude. It was ruthlessly provoked by Snape at their very 
first meeting.  Why, I wonder, Snape chose to alienate Harry ? If he 
is indeed Harry' guardian, he just brought much trouble on himself.

Any thoughts?

Ana.