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

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 108642

sachmet
Actually I took the raised eyebrows of Ron and Harry as them reacting
in a sarcastic/condescending way to or making fun of what Snape just
said (at least I would have seen it that way if I were the teacher).
So I thought Snape was reacting to that and found his reaction
perfectly understandable in that situation.

vmonte responds:

Sorry, you won't convince me that raising your eyebrows after the 
teacher just implied that the class was full of dunderheads is reason 
enough to attack an eleven-year-old you have never met before. Ron 
and Harry were not smiling and making fun of Snape, they were 
shocked. The reaction of the children sound more like fear, which is 
probably exactly what Snape wanted them to feel. Bullies like to 
intimidate their prey, and they often pick on those that are weaker 
and smaller than themselves. Notice that when fake Moody stands up to 
Snape (the night Harry was almost caught on the steps with the egg in 
GoF) and basically tells him to back off or he'll tell DD about his 
abusive behavior towards Harry, Snape immediately backs down. 

vivian