Snape: What is he up to?

[bugaloo37]

No: HPFGUIDX 43994

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ksnidget" <ksnidget at a...> wrote:
> What Snape wants most (recognitions, celebrity, fame, honors)
> he doesn't get.  Those that are getting them, particularly if
> they may not deserve them, are very annoying to him.  And he
> is do damn honest to just play nice to the people he can't stand.
> 
> Ksnidget

First of all, thanks for the response.  I do agree that recognition 
is something that Snape craves - and it may be the lack thereof that 
adds fuel to his deep-seated resentment of both James and Harry.  Its 
the other side of this equation that bothers me.  In other words:  
why does Snape go out of his way to protect Harry?  Is he doing this, 
as Dumbledore has surmized to repay a life-debt to James Potter?  
This is a very simple solution to the question.  But for some reason, 
I have a hard time accepting it.  Is Snape saving Harry to save 
himself?    By this I mean, does he have the same secret knowledge 
that Dumbledore has in regards to Harry's special abilities which if 
cultivated could be used to defeat Voldemort?  I have stated before 
that I do not see Harry as being merely a "secret weapon" being 
manipulated by people who merely wish to save themselves but have no 
personal regard for Harry himself.  However, when I made that 
statement, the people I was referring to were people who not only 
have protected Harry but have demonstrated a sincere affection for 
him-such as Dumbledore, Hagrid, and the Weasleys.  But on the other 
hand, someone who acts as a protector but demonstrates no true regard 
for the object of his protection may simply be fulfilling an assigned 
position-assigned on the basis of the knowledge that preserving said 
object may be beneficial to oneself in the long run (could this 
protection be part of Snape's "assignment" from Dumbledore?).  Once 
again, I am not promoting the idea of a pre-destined Harry.  I am 
merely stating that Snape may recognize the special abilities of 
Harry (especially since he was able to withstand Voldemort when he 
was just a mere baby) and realize that he could be the WW best chance 
for defeating Voldemort.  I know it looks like I have settled the 
debate at least for myself, but I would like to hear any other ideas 
that are out there.

bugaloo37-who has a problem with over-analyzing; but I suppose that's 
why I'm here.