Snape and the Boggart class

[ats_fhc3]

No: HPFGUIDX 47507

Wanda wrote:
"I was rereading PoA, enjoying the many Snapey scenes in it, and 
came to the Chapter 7 scene where Lupin is about to teach the 
students how to fight the Boggart in the wardrobe in the staffroom.  
I like the way the scene was set, first of all - the room is empty, 
except for Snape.  I wonder, first of all, what he's doing there, 
all alone - reading?  Thinking?  We seldom "intrude" upon Snape, and 
it's interesting that the one time we do, we don't really know what 
to make of him. How do people interpret his remark to Lupin, as he 
prepares to leave: "I'd rather not witness this"?  Is he just being 
sarcastic, saying that he expects the students' efforts to be a bit 
of a fiasco?  (It didn't happen - they all did pretty well.)  Or is 
he suspecting something like what actually happens - he's going to 
figure in the lesson, as he's bound to be someone's greatest fear?  
Is he leaving in order to save face, or is he, in his own way, 
getting out of the way so he won't inhibit the lesson?  Naturally, 
being Snape, he can't resist a parting shot at Neville and 
Hermione.  I'd be interested in hearing other people's views on 
this."
 
I have put off responding to this because I was looking at other 
people's theories and assesing my own. Well, here it is:

My first reading of this passage was that Snape simply had a free 
period and was spending it in the staff room. Especailly since, 
later, he apparently has the free period to TEACH Lupin's class. I 
don't have my books with me because I'm home, and books are at 
school, but the book doesn't mention him leaving with anything in 
his hands, IIRC, such as parchments, books, fluffy white kitten, 
favorite dolly named Patience with the curls. It also doesn't 
mention him doing anything but sitting. Perhaps he's just thinking.

As for why he left, I believe that maybe he forgot that Lupin was 
going to take his Third Years in there (though how could he, what 
with the rattling of the Boggart? He didn't get rid of it, so he 
most have known he was supposed to leave it there), and when he saw 
that Lupin was there, he left because he hates Lupin, 'scuse me, has 
strong feelings of dislike towards Lupin, and didn't want to watch 
him teach.

That, and maybe he realized that Lupin's teaching methods would 
result in him being liked mych better than Snape, and Snape didn't 
want to witness all the students thinking Lupin was cool, and then 
turning around and hating Snape all the more. Hey, the man's not a 
STONE, I'm sure he has feelings...somewheres...deep, deep down 
inside...really, really deep down...

-Acire, who didn't check her e-mail for two days and figured the 
fastest way to catch up was to keep everything with the word 'Snape' 
in it.