Snape and Harry (WAS: Re: 2 nagging questions)

[gkjpo <kristen@sanderson-web.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48914


> I personally Think that Rowling merely used Snape to
> act as a pseudo- archenemy for Harry in the first 4
> years, kind of in preperation for the much bigger and
> important battles he will face in 5,6,7. I think the
> end of the 4th book symbolized the official end of
> Snape's unneccesary punishments to Harry. I believe
> that Snape served to show how Voldemort's treatment of
> Harry is so much worse and villianous than the grudge
> that Snape holds against him. I think that Snape will
> be one of the strongest anti-Voldemort leaders (His
> treatment of Karkaroff; willingness to show dark mark
> to Fudge). I also think that after being chased down
> by Voldemort himself, Snape will sacrifice himself for
> Harry, and that Snape is the "fan of Harry" that
> supposively dies in Book 5. In the first 4 books,
> Snape definately is hard on Harry during class, but he
> definately rewards hard-work, and we never see Harry
> complaining about a low grade in Potions.
> 
> Please feel free to respond
> -Danny
> 

I don't know that he's a fan...though I'm guessing that he doesn't 
hate him as much as is thought.  At the end of PoA Snape tells 
Crouch ..."and of course Potter has always been allowed an 
extraordinary amount of license by the headmaster--...is it good for 
him to be given so much special treatment?  Personally, I try and 
treat him like any other student." (p 387)  Here Snape shows that he 
disagress with Dumbledore about how to treat Harry.  Dumbledore 
allows him freedom (we find out at the end of Gof) because he knows 
that Harry must grow up quickly.  Snape's opinion of how to treat him 
is different.  

Also, as for his being a fan, also from PoA, "Professor Snape...was 
staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin...but even Harry who 
hated Snape was startled at the expression twisting his think, sallow 
face.  It was beyond anger: it was loathing.  Hary knew that 
expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he 
set eyes on Harry." (p. 93)  It seems that Snape does dislike Harry 
for some reason - possibly for the same reason he disliked James and 
Sirius.  

I surmise that Snape is on the side of the good, but that doesn't 
mean he has to like the people he's working with.  He has to know 
that Harry is supposed to be the salvation of the good side (possibly 
Trelawney's first prediction?), but that doesn't mean he has to fall 
all over himself to be nice to Harry either.  After all, he has 
probably made huge personal sacrifices for the good side, but will 
probably get little credit.  

Someone else mentioned that Snape had to end up liking Harry because 
otherwise he would end up cartoonish and I agree with that.  Snape, 
like Harry, must grow himself before the end of the 7 books.  I think 
that as he grows we will find out more about him and he will get used 
to being on the good side and maybe even like the people there.

Kristen