Harry is an ungratful spoiled brat. Was: Snape is evil

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 68426

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jsmithqwert" 
<jsmithqwert at h...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "rhosyn4u" 
<a4annielauss at m...> 
> wrote:
> > I'm not quoting anybody... is that ridiculously arrogant? I hope 
> > not. Anyway......
> > 
> > I admit I'm not at all sure about the Snape thing and look 
forward 
> > to some more sheddage of light upon the subject in further books.
> > 
> > That said, however, I have a STRONG hunch that Snape has been 
> acting 
> > a good deal of his maliciousness. If he were fair, decent, and un-
> > horrible to Harry and the other Gryfffindors (to say nothing of 
> > generous or affectionate) the Slytherin kids would not like him, 
> > thus their parents (notably Malfoy) would not like him, thus he 
> > would lose his position as head of Slytherin or at the very least 
> be 
> > mistrusted by the Slytherins. To do this would be to forfeit a 
HUGE 
> > advantage both as a spy in Voldy's camp and as a confidante and 
> > hopefully/possibly a redeemer of the Slytherin children, who face 
> > rather the same fate of Mafia children; it's hard to turn away 
from 
> > something evil that is as deep-rooted in the family/social 
culture 
> > as that.
> > 
> > He's probably not the nicest person anyway; his grumpiness and 
anti-
> > social behavior are probably just a part of him, but this theory 
> > would explain his blatantly cruel and deeply unfair behavior. 
Also, 
> > there is already evidence that he can act unconcerned and 
> dismissive 
> > on demand; his reaction to Harry's cryptic yell in OoP was 
> perfectly 
> > in character; so much so that Harry did not even detect it, even 
> > though it was perfectly obvious Snape would have to feign 
ignorance 
> > or Umbridge would get suspicious.
> > 
> > There, I'm done.
> > 
> > ~rhosyn =)
> 
> I agree that much of Snape's malicious behavior is probably an 
act.  
> I would like to add that one of the wonderful things that makes him 
> such a complex character is the fact that he has an excuse 
(covering 
> up his spy activities) to amplify and act out on all the little 
> impulses, grudges, and other unsocial things that civil people 
> normally suppress.  I think that he does indeed have a 
predisposition 
> toward nastiness, but I also think that he, like virtually every 
> adult, can constrain himself to act civilly when it is 
appropriate.  
> It's just great that JKR has set up his character in this unique 
> position where he can't be civil because it sets up such an 
> interesting experiment in interactive psychology between 
> his "uncivil" front and the rest of society.
> 
> jsmithqwert

That's actually a very interesting point and does make a lot of sense.

JKR even foreshadowed it to a degree in The Hearing, when Arthur had 
to remind Harry forcibly by standing on his foot not to act like he 
knew Kingsley in the Ministry of Magic to keep their cover.

She also showed Percy ignoring Arthur and vice versa, going against 
what  might otherwise have been their normal inclinations.

So it is plausible that Snape, while never a really pleasant guy, is 
being all the more unpleasant so the DEs won't suspect him.  

But that said, there's still more fault lying with him than with 
Harry.

Harry realizes Snape's in the order *now* and that Dumbledore trusts 
him, but until very recently [GoF and OtP], it didn't get mentioned 
substantively to Harry that Snape might still be working undercover 
for Dumbledore in the DEs.  

That said, Harry is struggling with trying to be mature in OtP as it 
is.  Like his gratitude is tainted by Dumbledore's not having looked 
at him at the hearing, but he doesn't say anything because he thinks 
it would be petty and childish.

And Harry's jealousy of Ron making Prefect when Harry himself did 
not.  He was having bitter thoughts, then being ashamed of himself 
for having them because he knew Ron deserved his moment in the sun, 
and that he, Harry had caused enough of a ruckus over his years at 
Hogwarts that he would not be considered prefect material.  

For a 15 year old, that's fairly mature.

But these people are his friends, who have gone out of their way to 
be civil to him and decent to him, even when he was taking out his 
misplaced rage on them.

Snape has never made even the attempt to be decent and civil to Harry 
from day one.   His "charade" as nasty mean favourites-playing 
teacher would have been more convincing to Harry if he'd met the boy 
and then started being nasty to him, rather than just being nasty 
instantaneously out of blood spite for James Potter, IMO.

I still gotta wonder though why the big D lets stuff like this and 
the Umbridge Blood Quill [Indigo pauses here to have a moment of 
incoherent rage.  Okay, moment over]  continue under his roof.  I get 
the impression he knows.

Eh. I'm starting to babble. That'll do, fangirl. That'll do.

Indigo