Snape and Redemption (was: JKR's best interview)

[queenofeverythang]

No: HPFGUIDX 75788

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tara" 
<killerwhaletank at h...> wrote:

> e wrote:
> > My impression of Snape is that he *doesn't* really hate Harry. 
Remember
> how Mrs. Figg said she purposely tried to be boring so that 
Harry would hate
> going there, and therefore be sent to her house regularly. What 
if Snape
> works hard to make Harry hate him so that Draco Malfoy can 
report home to
> his DE family that Snape is definitely *not* on Harry Potter's 
side?
> 
> Me:
> That's an interesting thought that I'd never considered... but I 
like it.
> It doesn't have to mean that he likes Harry all that much, just 
that he
> doesn't hate him as much as he pretends to. :)  And it's 
something I could
> see him doing for sure... it also kind of explains how 
Dumbledore has let
> Snape's prejudice towards Harry continue unchallenged for 5 
years.  Surely
> Dumbledore and the other teachers haven't been completely 
blind towards the
> animosity that Snape shows Harry.
> 
> Tara

I think this idea is interesting but I think It's too socially
advanced 
for Snape. Snape is a gifted wizard but he seems pretty 
antisocial to me. I think Harry represents all the things he is not, 
like his father did, and I think that's what may fuel (hate, i think,
is 
to strong) his dislike for Harry. I do think that Snape does believe 
by being harsh with Harry he is - not teaching him but more - 
putting him in his place.  I think the teachers are very aware of 
Snape's feelings about Potter but think that it's nothing that they 
can't keep control over. Snape is a valuable teacher and a 
valuable ally, and after dealing with Voldy almost once a year I 
think all of Hogwarts staff believes Harry is quite capable of 
handling one mean teacher (it's not as if they'd let him 
completely flunk or expel him.)

-QoE