OotP-Snape wanted Harry to see

[idlerat]

No: HPFGUIDX 65301

I posted a reply to this but I realize now I should have done so in
this thread, so I am reposting here.  Apologies for bewilderment in
the face of overwhelming postage.

> joanna wrote:
> Have any of you thought that Snape might of wanted
> Harry to see his 
> memory? 
> <snip>
> 
> Me (Jane/idlerat):
> I think he was ambivalent.  I expect there will be
> more discussion of this incident (obviously the banner
> event of book 5) in the next volume.  I would not be
> surprised to hear DD or HG speculate that *at some
> level* (i.e. unconsciously) Snape took the risk of
> leaving Harry alone with the pensieve hoping that
> Harry would see how awful his father had been to
> Snape.  I have always felt that *one of* the (many)
> reasons Snape hates Harry is that he thinks that Harry
> has always hated *him*, prejudicially, starting from
> HP's first Welcome Feast.    
> 


A further thought: most objections to this idea have been based on
Snape's reaction.  That's why I think he did it unconsciously.   He
would then be in a rage, partly at himself; he's conflicted.  

This could be an extension of Teen!Snape.  Think of what Lily says
about washing his pants.  From one point of view it might seem easy
for him to take some steps to make himself less of a target (one
poster said, why doesn't he just bathe?)  But obviously for the child
who's exhibiting this behavior the meaning of it isn't so simple.  If
he comes from an abusive home, he probably believes at some level that
he *deserves* to be ostracized and humiliated.  Anyone reading me?

 cheers
 Idlerat, who has never visited Theory Bay but who
 would certainly want to take advantage of reduced
 rates at the Royal George