Snape's Reaction to Harry assuming that he is a DE spy

[kateydidnt2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 108567

> 
> Casey:
> For all we know asking those questions may be part of Snapes first 
> class every year, much like the "foolish wand waving" speach. I 
> imagine he started with Harry because he was their "new celebrity". 
> If Harry had answered something correctly Snape might have moved on, 
> but Harry didn't. 

I honestly doubt he would have backed down if Harry had answered
correctly. Snape has shown he loves to badger Harry, (points off for
breathing too loudly?!?!?!) and even when backing down or giving Harry
some space would have been the appropriate or adult thing to do he
continues to provoke Harry, *wanting* the type of reaction that
reconfirms his views, without stopping to think of other motivations
for Harry's actions.  If Snape were to provoke any other student the
way he does Harry he would most likely get the *same* reaction.  If
someone were to provoke Snape the way he provokes Harry...... I think
that Snape would react the same way or worse.

>Thus he could knock Harry down from his celebrity 
> status to that of a mortal. Then Harry back talked and confirmed 
> Snapes worst assumptions. 
> 

However, Snape *wanted* his assumptions confirmed. *Any* eleven year
old would have spoken up to defend him/her self in that situation and
I think most of the other teachers would have listened to a protest
that something was unfair. Snape though, was deliberately seeking
anything that would fit into the mold he had already stuffed Harry
into.  What bugs me most about the whole situation is that *Harry* had
no preconceived notions about Snape-as I interpret the books he only
had a curiousity as to whether or not Snape really was biased as was
rumored. He made no judgments until *after* seeing Snape and seeing
his actions.  Snape had his judgement already made.

> As for why Snape didn't ask about Harry's background, well, if he 
> doesn't ask about the other children why should he ask about Harry?

The problem, as I see it is not that Snape did not ask about Harry's
background-it is the fact that he made unsubstantiated assumptions
about it and then made an unwarranted attack based on those
assumptions. Did he make similar assumptions about the backgrounds of
others? we don't know, because he did not act on any assumptions he
might have made. Snape *did* have a responsibility to find out Harry's
background before acting on his assumptions.  He would have the
responsibility to find out if *any* of his assumptions (not just those
involving Harry) were true before being justified in acting on them.

kateydidnt