OoP - Snape STILL could be the turncoat

[mochajava13]

No: HPFGUIDX 62353

Snape is still a very mysterious character.  Like Harry pointed out: 
why does Snape still call Voldemort "Dark Lord"?  He could just be 
saying that in case a death eater's child is lingering around (like 
when Draco walked in on an occlumency lesson).  But, Snape did try 
and find Harry in the forest to prevent him from going to the 
Ministry, and he did warn Sirius even though he obviously despises 
Sirius.  Snape obviously feels as many death eaters do, such as a 
superiority complex over muggle-born wizards.  He calls Lily 
a "filthy mudblood" in his memory.  He hates Lupin for being a 
werewolf.  Quite telling of his views.  He seems very prejudiced in 
general, and has views typical of both death-eaters and wizards like 
Fudge.  Maybe he turned for the same reason Sirius' brother tried to 
get out of the death eaters: he didn't like the methods that V and 
the death eaters were using.  After seeing a fellow death eater 
killed for trying to get out of the group, would you voice your 
opinion?  I think Snape's turning to the good side could fit with 
the idea that he didn't like V's tactics, but did like his ideas.  

But, why is Harry worse after occlumency lessons?  It could be that 
Snape is making it easier for V.  Or it could be, as Hermione 
pointed out, that he is more vulnerable after these lessons because 
he hasn't mastered how.  It could even be that the occlumency 
lessons began around the same time that V realized that he had this 
connection with Harry, and as V realized his first plan (of using 
others to geet the prophecy) wouldn't work.  It could be that V 
first tries to get into Harry's head at the same time that Harry 
begins occlumency lessons.   My theory is that, since Harry has this 
connection with Voldemort, trying to shut off his emotions and empty 
his mind is not the way to block out V.  Harry and V have a 
connection that is rare, possibly even unique, in the wizarding 
world.  As V is extremely good at getting into other's minds, I 
would assume that he would likewise be extremely good at 
occlumency.  But he can't block Harry out, and Harry cannot 
penetrate other's minds.  Could it be that blocking out emotions 
helps V get into Harry's mind because V doesn't understand/hates 
certain emotions?  Would V have a harder, or just more painful, time 
getting into Harry's mind if Harry focused all his thoughts on love 
instead?  Whatever the reason is, the ease that V puts false 
memories into Harry's head needs to be explained.

I think that Snape IS on the good side, but is portrayed as slightly 
evil for a reason.  JKR doesn't like a black/white world.  Adding 
Snape to the good side makes her world more gray.  Snape doesn't 
have much in common with other members of the Order.  Like the twins 
say early on in the book, Snape being on the good side doesn't stop 
him from being a git.  He can still fight for the good side, but 
despise the people he's fighting with.  

But then again, his actions towards Harry, and Neville, could just 
be a necessity so that no one suspects that he isn't anything more 
than he appears to the death eaters.  He has to act menacingly to 
Harry and Neville (the only two children of the original Order) to 
keep up appearances, especially since Harry and Nevilly have classes 
with the children of death eaters.  But then again, his reaction 
when Harry sees this memories is very frightening, and can't be 
explained away by a desire to keep up appearances.  His reactions 
amount to child abuse.  He grips Harry on the arm so hard that Harry 
has a bruise on his arm.  He shakes Harry so hard that Harry's 
glasses almost fall off.  He throws Harry with all his might, and 
throws things as Harry is leaving.  And he refuses to continue 
occlumency lessons, despite knowing how crucial these lessons are.  
He won't even listen to Harry.  I found these actions of Snape's 
VERY distasteful, and indicative of his personality in general.  He 
seems very similar to Umbridge in this aspect; Umbridge shook 
Marietta when Marietta didn't give the answer that Umbridge wanted.  
Dumbledore and McGonagall stepped in when this happened.  What would 
Dumbledore do if he knew that Snape did this to Harry, and more?  I 
don't like it.  I thought this reaction was too extreme, especially 
since he made a point of extracting these memories in front of 
Harry.  True, Harry shouldn't have tried to see into Snape's 
memories in the first place.  Harry knew this before he went into 
the penseive.  But Snape's reaction, to someone half his age, was 
completely inappropriate.  He should never have bruised Harry, shook 
Harry, or throw things at Harry.  Completely inapproprite.  He could 
have taken them out before meeting Harry, and Harry could have just 
found them like he found Dumbledore's.  But Snape extracts them in 
front of Harry, while watching Harry, almost daring Harry to ask 
what they were.  And why take them out at all?  He even said that he 
wasn't expecting Harry to use a shield charm and see his memories.  
Hmm, I think these actions of Snape's are very suspicious.  I don't 
like it.  It made me dislike Snape, for the first time in the 
series.  I'm going to have a hard time sympathizing with Snape at 
all after this.