Snape as Harry's protector

[Elizabeth Dalton]

No: HPFGUIDX 31071


Heather and others (including myself) have been discussing a possible "guardian"
role for Snape, as part of what motivates his behavior toward Harry. Last night,
while continuing to reread PoA, I found, in the Shrieking Shack scene, this
quote:

"SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!" Snape shrieked, looking madder
than ever. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you
should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd
[Sirius] killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe
you might be mistaken in Black -- now get out of the way, or I will *make you*."

Just imagine: back before Voldemort's fall, Snape hears that James is
considering using Sirius as a Secret Keeper. (This assumes that he was in
Dumbledore's deep confidence even at this time.) Snape argues against it, on the
grounds that Sirius had tried to get him [Snape] killed at least once, and isn't
trustworthy. James picks Sirius (as far as Snape knows) anyway, over Snape's
vehement protests. (Possibly Snape had even volunteered to be the Secret-Keeper
himself, though I doubt it, as he was routinely in too much danger.) Sirius
(apparently) betrays James -- Snape hears about it when Voldemort does, and
tries *again* to warn James, at great personal risk, but probably with his usual
lack of social grace, and James blows him off (knowing that Sirius isn't the
Secret-Keeper, anyway). James & Lily get killed, and Snape is left "knowing"
that he was right about Sirius all along. (Remember, even Dumbledore thinks
Sirius was the Secret-Keeper.) He's missed his chance to pay off that ridiculous
debt he owes James, and now he's stuck being at least somewhat responsible for
the safety of James' orphaned son, who wouldn't *be* an orphan if that
pig-headed James had only listened. He stews over this for the next ten years.

Then the kid shows up at Hogwarts and (from Snape's point of view) has the same
stubborn, arrogant conviction as his father that he can choose his own friends,
thanks, and that rules don't apply to him.

To my mind, this is a much more powerful motivation for Snape's constant
snarling at Harry than anything involving Lily (and I had formerly been in the
torch-for-Lily camp).

And with the explanations coming to Snape late, at the end of GoF, he may now
know that he really does have to reconsider Sirius' role in all this, and
therefore, James' actions as well. This could end up changing his opinions of
Harry, but I'll bet a major change in Snape's behavior will be a long time
coming. He's just not a charming kind of guy. (And, as Rosiewolf pointed out, if
he's still a spy, he still has to be careful.)

I think this does fit in with Susanna/pigwidgeon37's excellent observations
about Snape depending on Dumbledore for his redemption, btw. Dumbledore seems to
have sided with Sirius despite Snape's historical complaints against him. Snape
seems to take this especially badly, at the end of PoA.

Sorry about all the ()s. :)

One last question: if Peter was the Secret Keeper, how come Sirius knew where
the Potters' house was? Maybe because Snape had already gotten that info to
Dumbledore, as proof that the Fidelius Charm had been broken?

Elizabeth