Professor Snape's role

[maa-dee]

No: HPFGUIDX 99927

Potioncat wrote:

> But because the original point of this thread had to do with the 
> penseive and Occlumency, I have to say, one my favorite theories 
> from this site, is that it may have been Snape who tipped the Order 
> off about how badly the Dursleys treat Harry.

Maddy writes:

Now _that's_ an interesting theory! That's one of the funny things
about Snape. I think the good things that he does are behind the
scenes...in other words not in front of Harry. Afterall, in PS/SS, why
didn't Snape just go up to Harry and say "Listen, I think Quirrel's
trying to kill you/is dangerous, I'm keeping an eye on him, but you'd
better be careful."? It is only because Quirrel tells Harry that Snape
saved his life that Harry knows. It seems Snape would never have
admitted it to Harry's face.

And if Snape did tip the Order off...there's yet another example. It's
things like this that make me wonder if Snape really does hate Harry.
Also his willingness to teach Harry Occlumency.

Wait a second, I'm condradicting myself, here. I think Snape does
truly hate Harry, but he will go out of his way to help Harry when
it's needed or asked for. Maybe the fact that he does things to help
Harry, whom he hates, makes him hate Harry even more? I don't know.
I'm no phsychologist.

The question is why does he go out of his way to help Harry? Is it
because despite how much he hates Harry he simply doesn't want him
dead? Or is there a much more interesting, yet-to-be-revealed reason
behind it?

It would be a surprisingly *sensative* thing for Snape to do IMHO
(telling the Order about the Dursleys' mistreatment of Harry, that
is), if he did do it. That is, recognizing the emotional abuse and
neglect they treated Harry with, and then acting on it so that others
would definitely change it for the better. At Hogwarts, Snape seems to
enjoy mistreating and humiliating Harry, so why should he help out
where the Dursleys are concerned? Perhaps this is because Snape had a
similar childhood? The pensieve memory likely indicates at the very
least a verbally abusive father. Upon seeing and recognizing it, maybe
he informed Sirius who then asked Lupin to say something to the
Dursleys next time at the train station.

Digressing a little here...But does it bother anyone else that Sirius
never really bothered to find out much about the Dursleys? I don't
have OotP with me, so I can't quote the page number, but I believe
Sirius says at one point "They must be bad if you prefer this place."
referring to Grimmauld Place. Perhaps he was just content with the
fact that Harry was "safe" there.

But getting back to Snape...

Potioncat wrote:

> The first one that comes to my mind, IIRC, (and this doesn't even 
> involve Snape) is when McGonagall thinks the Trio tricked Draco into 
> thinking they had a dragon.  We of course, know the truth, but she 
> believes them to be guilty of taunting Malfoy.

Maddy writes:

Yes, I think McGonagall believes Malfoy that the trio tricked him.
Perhaps at that point, McGonagall expected Harry to follow in his
father's footsteps and be a right little trouble-maker himself? But
she eventually comes to know Harry as his own person, not just James's
son.

Potioncat wrote:

> My point is, he expects Harry to be an arrogant rule breaker.  And 
> he has seen Harry break rules!  I've always thought he knew Malfoy 
> was starting the fights, but I'm beginning to wonder if that is the 
> case.

Maddy writes:

That could be it. Maybe because he expected Harry to be just like
James, he's only noticed the similarities (ie Harry's rule breaking
and occasionally getting away with it) and not any of the differences,
such as Harry doesn't bully people, but stands up for those who are
bullied.

Still, I think we are meant to take Snape to be a very intelligent
person. And I think that he does know that Harry isn't a carbon copy
of James. He does detect the sense of pride that Harry has, and sees
that he doesn't like/deal well with his fame, and because he hates
Harry, he punishes him for it because I think that, more than anything
else would, annoys and frustrates Harry.

=)
Maddy
(yes, I'm definitely in a long-winded mood today. But I like this topic.)