[HPforGrownups] Re: OOP: Snape's Influence on the Good-Bye Scene

[Jenserai Bariman]

No: HPFGUIDX 64751

><snip>
> > I've seen a lot of people talking about the new-found understanding
>that
> > Snape has of Harry's life in the muggle world--and I agree with
>that whole
> > heartedly--but I'm wondering if it was Snape who influenced all
>those Order
> > members to show up at Kings Cross Station and warn the Dursleys to
>be nicer
> > to Harry.
><snip>

stardreams04 said:
>I think I'm going to have to disagree. Snape has gained a new
>understanding of Harry's home life, but I don't think he would act to
>do anything about it. At the end of OotP Snape is still too angry and
>bitter at Harry for seeing his worst memory to feel overly charitable
>to Harry. The Weasleys, however, are fully aware of Harry's home life
>AND would do anything they could to make it better. Mr. and Mrs.
>Weasley could have told the Order about what Harry has to put up with
>at the Dursley's. I think the ending farewell was a gesture of
>support to Harry. It acknowledges that Harry has just lost the last
>member of his true family, but it shows him that there are still
>plenty of people out there who care for him.
>

I say:
But the Weasleys have know for years and done nothing. Snape, on the other 
hand only found out this year. As for Snape being too angry and bitter about 
Harry poking his nose where it didn't belong.... take a look at Snape's last 
scene (early 850's in the US edition). Snape was acting very odd, he wasn't 
yelling at Harry as I would have expected him to do, and the only punishment 
he intended to inflict was ten points from gryffindor. Of course we don't 
know what alternative he might have come up with had McG given him the 
chance, but it just seemed like he wasn't very angry.

What we first hear out of him hear is loud, yes, "The voice rang across the 
entrance hall", but that doesn't necessarily mean he was upset as he was, at 
the time, some distance away.

He then speaks "coldly as ever". I dunno, but this could indicate that he 
was simply using that particular tone out of habit.

Harry readily admits to being about to curse Draco, and Snape "stared at 
him". Stared? I stare at someone when I'm startled by them, trying to figure 
someone out or trying to get them to say something. (Or attracted to them, 
but I'll leave that to the Harry/Snape shippers)

Next, "'Put that wand away at once,' he said curtly." Again, I could be 
wrong, but this could indicate disinterest or simply being in a hurry and 
not having the time to spend on student's petty fights. Also, "curtly" 
brings to mind Hermione when she's trying to express her opinion that Harry 
and Ron are being idiots and she's got a better plan.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't a thousand other possible interpretations 
for these descriptions, but all together it just seemed like Snape wasn't 
really that interested in being mean to Harry.

In truth I really don't know what to make of Snape's shift in attitude 
throughout this book. He's pretty normal (for him) at first and then he 
seems to be softening up to Harry a little, then angry to the point of 
violence about the pensive, and later, really horrible what with dropping 
Harry's potion, and then suddenly acting as if he's softening up again. 
Actually, after going through all that, I suppose he could have just had 
time to cool down a bit and realize that Harry didn't seem to be having fun 
watching James bully him. If this is the case, I think there is enormous 
potential to see some interesting interactions between the two next book. 
Hopefully Harry will quit blaming Snape for Black's death.

Anyway, I think it's a possibility that Snape was the one who set the Order 
on the Dursleys.

-Jens, who, in rereading that scene thought it seemed disturbilngly like 
fanon Snape had somehow slithered onto canon page

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