Snape's Destiny/JKR quotes (or Snape-aholics and Siriophiles)

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 105447

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "curly_of_oster" <lkadlec at p...> wrote:
> 
> On the other hand, I've never been terribly convinced by the 
> whole "Snape treats Harry and/or Neville badly as part of his act as 
> a spy" theory.  From the point of view of Voldemort and his 
> supporters, Snape is supposedly on their side, but playing a role as 
> a Dumbledore supporter, or at the least playing a role as just 
> another Hogwarts professor.  If that is the case, wouldn't he be 
> more convincing in either of these roles if he wasn't so 
> obviously "against" the "Boy Who Lived"?  Is he trying to convince 
> whatever Death Eaters are supposedly keeping tabs on his behavior in 
> his classroom (and even in one-on-one Occlumency lessons?) that he's 
> a *bad* spy, that he's giving Dumbledore reason to doubt him?  I 
> most definitely think there is more to Snape than we know, and I'm 
> curious as to what we'll find out in future books, but this is one 
> explanation for his behavior that still doesn't make much sense to 
> me.  Clarification/explanation of it is most welcome.
> 

Acting like a good little DE by tormenting the two possible Voldy!Banes
is all very well as a starting point, but can't be  carried too far IMO.
Of course the DE parents of Malfoy minor, Crabbe, Goyle, etc. will
probably nod with approval when they hear that ole Sevvy is giving
Potter and Longbottom a hard time. Just as a  matter of principle it'll
warm the cockles of their hearts that the offspring of those responsible
for Voldy's defeat and the incarceration of so many of their friends are
on the receiving end of Snape's sarcasm.

But there's another strand, one which has (I think) been confirmed to a
certain extent by JKR;
Snape is the equivalent of Vernon Dursley at Hogwarts. He has a function
- to teach Harry that not all is sweetness and  light; that there are
unpleasant people around and he's going to have to learn to deal
with them.

It's an idea I've posted before - Harry sees the WW as a refuge from an
unfriendly existence. But in the WW Harry is one of the all-time heroes
and DD placed him with a Muggle family deliberately, just so that he
wouldn't be spoiled. But there's still a danger of that happening. If 
Harry was greeted everywhere as he was at the Leaky Cauldron, that
danger would be significant. Snape is a corrective. He is *deliberately*
nasty - and it's with DD's knowledge and approval. They're  the best
double  act in the WW. Snape is there to watch Harry, to protect Harry
and to teach him a few things about life - like how unfair it is.
His attitude has credible roots to outsiders- Snape's history with James.
But Snape is much too intelligent to confuse Harry with James; he
probably  doesn't like Harry much, but in the larger scheme of things
that's hardly significant.

The 'act' (if act there is) is as much for Harry as for Voldy and the DEs -
and of course Harry's responses add verisimilitude.

But I  dare say it's another theory you don't agree with.
'Twas ever thus - Kneasy burns the midnight oil and gets brickbats
for his pains. Poor Kneasy.