All of Snape's reasons - was Snape's cover

[Amathya]

No: HPFGUIDX 70010


I had written a response to the "tooth enlarging scene debate" a day 
or so ago but didn't post 
 however my idea still appears to be 
relevant (at least concerning this thread) as no one has, as I've 
noted, touched upon my idea yet. The following concept does not 
excuse Snape's behaviour, but will hopefully give yet another
reason 
for why he might have said what he did. It's rather circumstantial 
and "out-there," I suppose, but here 'tis nonetheless:

Snape's motive?


> ... Darrin's ... Snape scale:

>> 2) Greater Good Snape - Snape is all about the cause. He knew 
> > Draco and the gang would be lulled into a false sense of 
security, 
> > which would weaken them for when the big fight happens.

> > 3) Taking His Shots Snape - He saw the shot and took it. Laughed 
> > himself silly about it later and thanked the god of comedy send 
up 
> > lines. Nothing personal, Granger, but damn, you can't let those 
go.

> I'll take Snape 2.5 -- saw a shot and took it.  Felt vaguely crappy
> about it later.

Melpomene wrote:
> I suppose I have to agree--I was all set to go straight for (3) 
no questions asked--that's my Snape. If I hadn't just finished 
reading those Occlumency tirades about wallowing in self pity 


My own thoughts:
What if Snape Wanted Hermione to hate him, so he took a "cheap 
shot," of which he Knew would have an effect on her (although, as 
we've deduced, he may have underestimated her, as she's 
apparently "gotten over"  this "past-evil remark" of his). Why did 
he want her to dislike him then? Maybe he felt Granger was a 
liability. A liability because she wasn't as frightened, submissive, 
or seemingly affected by his usual intimidating self. At this point 
in the series (mid-GoF) Hermione has crossed Snape many times, and I 
think he took the one chance he was offered to try and 
dissuade/discourage her from humanizing him further. 

Examples of Hermione thwarting Snape, and proving he is not as 
infallible as he'd like the rest of the student body to believe: set 
fire to his robes (PS); solved Snape's logic puzzle (PS); stole 
Boomslang skin from his Personal Stores, to create a complex (and 
potentially dangerous) potion (CoS); turned herself into a cat in 
the process, of which I have no doubt he realized, at that point, 
who was truly at fault (CoS, although speculative); tried to reason 
with Snape (most feared professor, who was most likely in a "state 
of Evil" that most wouldn't dare to oppose) in the Shrieking Shack, 
however unsuccessfully (PoA); defended Snape's 
humanity/trustworthiness when ever Harry or Ron spoke the opposite 
(GoF). 

I'd say that Hermione has learned that Snape is just as human as 
everyone else, but still respects him as a Professor - knows not to 
downplay his authority (at least not openly [smirk]). But at the 
point at which Snape makes the tooth comment, perhaps he just wanted 
to make her angry, make her spite him, but most importantly, get her 
to stop viewing him as anything Other than evil and unfair.

Of course ... this is one take on what happened and could be 
completely wrong [laugh] My try at deductive reasoning [Holmes is, 
if in his grave, now spinning quite emphatically]
 
And apologies for no citations and page numbers. My books are 
currently in Toronto [cry] except for Phoenix, and therefore the 
above may be viewed as "possibly mistaken/partially wrong" etc. 
Thank you.

Isadora Moss
[her first post ... hopefully clear, precise, and most importantly 
Neutral to "both parties" where Snape is concerned]