Capitalisation - How Snape is like Harry

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 28910

David suggested:

> Perhaps someone could do a thorough survey of all the books on this 
> vitally important question for today's troubled world.

I'm not THAT obsessed.  However, I can tell you that it varies between 
the UK and US editions.  "Dementors," IIRC, is uncapitaliZed <g> in 
the US edition of PoA.

Susanne wrote, of The Man in Black:

>But why the heck doesn't he go to Dumbledore?

Clearly the time has come for me to unveil my New Insight About Snape, 
even though I ran it by a couple of friends offlist and they were 
unimpressed <sniff>.  It is simply this:  that although one of Snape's 
defining characteristics is undoubtedly a strict adherence to rules, 
he also has an independent vigilante tendency that is positively 
Harrylike.  He doesn't contravene Dumbledore's wishes or break rules, 
but he does operate independently.  His actions frequently evoke the 
same reaction in the reader as Harry's:  "Why didn't he tell someone 
[namely AD]?" 

Some examples:

-his many activities in PS/SS, already detailed.  What was he doing 
going after Quirrell on Halloween (troll incident), trying to get past 
Fluffy, etc.?  If he was so suspicious that something so hazardous was 
afoot, why play the hero?  Tell AD what you suspect is going on!

-his skulking around in GF "The Egg and the Eye"--again, doing a 
little independent investigating in dangerous times.  Is this wise?

-his zeal to catch Black in PA--going outside the school and all that 
rather than alerting Dumbledore or Fudge.  He wants to catch Sirius 
and Lupin himself.

I find this similarity between Snape and his favorite rulebreaker very 
interesting, especially since one of Snape's pet peeves is Harry's 
tendency to play independent investigator.  One might even speculate 
that one reason Snape resents Harry is that Harry's recklessness 
reminds him of a quality he suppresses and dislikes in himself.

Amy

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 "Before we begin our banquet, I would like 
 to say a few words.  And here they are: 
 Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
            --HP and the Philosopher's Stone
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