Snape's reaction to Harry in Slytherin (was : Re: Changing Houses)

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 93317

Del wrote:

I don't have my books either, but I'd love to know what would go on 
in Snape's head if/when he learned that Harry should have been in 
Slytherin according to the Sorting Hat.

Berit replies:

Sadly I don't have my books with me at the time, but I'm almost sure 
Snape HAS learned that the Hat wanted to put Harry in Slytherin. In 
Harry's Occlumency lessons, the first time (?) Snape "legilimens" 
Harry (and if my memory is not playig me a trick), one of the 
memories racing through Harry's head when Snape "wathces" them, are 
the Sorting hat telling Harry he would have done well in Slytherin... 
Could anyone confirm this?

Snape's reaction to this information we don't know. His only comment 
is his answer to Harry's question whether he could see everything 
Harry experienced. Snape answers something along the lines 
of "flashes of it... Who did the dog belong to?" So we don't know his 
reaction to the Hat's words. But I'm quite sure he noticed! I think 
this little piece of information, along with him discovering Harry's 
childhood has not been a pampered one, he'll arrive at a better 
understanding of Harry (maybe even a glint of sympathy :-) in book 6 
and/or 7. I have a feeling Snape already has by the end of book 5. 
When he intercepts Harry in the act of hexing Malfoy and his gang in  
the Entrance Hall, he of course wants to take points off Gryffindor 
House, but he does it very coolly and not at all excessively angry or 
sadistically (even though Harry answers him back in a very bold and 
disrespectful way!); just the necessary amount of "cool indifference" 
to convince the Slytherins he is still on their side... My two 
knuts :-)

Berit
http://home.no.net/berjakob/snape.html