What if Snape does not have to maintain any cover?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 101866

>Juli wrote: 
> So, I do agree that Harry and Snape's relationship
> has been set back to square one by the end of OoTP,
> or maybe worse based on Harry's single-minded blame
> of Snape for Sirius's death. But I do think Harry
> instigated that setback, even if Snape sealed it
> with his reaction. I also expect in Book 6 Harry
> will be the one to keep their relationship in its
> current sorry state, at least in the beginning.



Potioncat:
In general, Harry has lots of reasons to dislike Professor Snape.  
The anger and blame he's feeling toward him for Sirius' death is a 
fairly normal reaction to grief and Snape is a perfect target for 
it.  I would expect (if JKR is writing it as human nature) that 
those feelings will calm down over time.  I'm not so sure about the 
underlying animosity.