OoP: What Snape is really doing out there...

[rowena_grunnionffitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 65858

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zebco606" <zebco606 at y...> 
wrote:

> > > Even people on the list who like Snape (and I am one), have had 
> > trouble with his "I see no difference" comment to Hermione. 

   Actually I don't. Think about it, Hermione, Ron and Harry were 
responsible for inflicting very similar injuries upon a number of 
their classmates as a diversion so they could steal the ingredients 
they needed from Snape's private stores. Frankly Snape's unfeeling 
response to her distress is no more than karmic retribution. The real 
question is did Snape *know* it was? I think the likely answer is 
yes. Doesn't he tell Harry that he knows he stole things from Snape's 
office?

> I agree with this totally. Snapes new mission has obviously been to 
> reinfiltrate the DeathEaters. Even though I think that his dislike 
> for Harry is unfeigned (sigh) I am sure that his preference for 
> Slytherins and Draco in particular is part of his cover. 

   Agreed. 
 
> Lucius is apparently very high up in the DE organization, to show 
> less than favoritism towards his son would be out of character for 
> his cover. Also, what better position for him to be in (head of 
> Slytherin) to keep him in the loop on all the DE's activities. We 
> know that several have children in Slytherin, and teenager esp. 
have 
> little idea of discretion but a great penchant for bragging rights. 

   All true. A downside could be that Snape is expected, by LV, to 
teach Dark Arts to his junior DEs.

>Although I can't say that I'm one of the ones that likes Snape, I do 
>have a tremendous respect for the dangerous line that he's chosen to 
> walk. Although I still dislike him enough to wonder if this isn't, 
> at least in part, a chance to show up, even posthumously, all those 
> other heroes of the last great conflict. This would go a long way 
> towards explaining his active dislike of Harry. How would you like 
> your, admittedly incredible, sacrifice of your wellbeing, and 
> possibly your life, to be overshadowed by a fifteen year old boy

   I wouldn't. I think by now Snape has more or less accepted that 
he's *never* going to get the credit he deserves, even from other 
members of the OotP, and deeply and justifiably resents it.