Snape, trying very hard not to smile? Or is he just allergic to cats?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 93600

Pippin:
>>I think Snape is showing consideration for Filch's feelings, 
strange as it may seem. I see them as old friends, bound 
perhaps by rather lowly origins and a common hatred for the 
students. I firmly believe that Snape's background isn't quite as 
lofty as it appears. His speaking style is quite a bit less 
flowery and affected when he's talking to Filch--a traditonal 
giveaway.<<
  
Susan:
> Perhaps a bit of support for Pippin's point of view--that Snape & 
Filch are old friends: after the incident w/ Fluffy where Snape's 
leg was injured, it was **Filch** to whom he turned for assistance 
in treating it.

Interesting thought re: Snape's speech/language choice when he's 
speaking w/ Filch. I'll have to look carefully from here on in & 
see if I can pick this up. (Or perhaps he's just "toning it down" 
for his old friend? ;-))

Carol:
I'm not sure that Snape and Filch friends, but they're certainly
allies in the quest to find students out of bounds after hours, and
they were both working to prevent anyone from trying to enter the
corridor with the sorceror's (philosopher's) stone. (Did Filch know
that Quirrell was after it? I can't remember.)

I've always wondered why Snape didn't go to Madam Pomfrey (rather than
Filch) with his injured leg. Possibly he didn't want her to know that
he had entered the chamber with the three-headed dog to head off
Quirrell, but I can't see a good reason for this view since he's
working for Dumbledore and Madam P. is on the same side. (Anyone?)
Maybe he was trying to keep his suspicions of Quirrell under cover
until he knew for sure, or maybe he was trying to be heroic and do it
all himself (with Filch's help if absolutely necessary). Or maybe the
leg hurt too much to trek through the castle to the hospital wing and
Filch was near at hand, offering help. Does anyone think that Filch,
despite being a Squib, might have some special at healing or
repairing? After all, the task of repairing the Fat Lady's portrait
was given to Filch rather than to a witch or wizard. Apparently it
couldn't just be repaired with a flick of a wand.

As for Snape's speech patterns around Filch, he would have no need to
impress or intimidate the castle caretaker, so he could be more
himself around Filch than around the students even if he and Filch
aren't close friends. (I do like Pippin"s idea that he was showing
consideration for Filch's feelings about Mrs. Norris because I'd like
to believe he's a decent person beneath his sarcastic exterior, but I
think he was probably just concealing his amusement from the students
because he knew it was an inappropriate reaction.)

I think (no proof, I know!) that Snape's speech patterns reflect a
background of genteel poverty, a pureblood family fallen on hard
times, rather than assumed gentility that can be dropped in front of
Filch or, say, Hagrid. But, like SSS, I'll try to pay more attention
to the way he speaks when he doesn't know that Harry can hear him. Any
avenue that can reveal hints about his background is worth exploring,
IMO, even if it proves me wrong.

Carol