What's in it for Snape? Finding motive...

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 97409

snipping all but one portion of this post

> Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> 
> From CLASS ONE, Snape treated Harry nastily, embarrassing him, 
> accusing him of things he didn't even care about [we know Harry 
> doesn't crave celebrity, yet Snape implies that he does, for 
> instance].  Harry **is** paying attention in that first class.  Why 
> does Snape stare at him w/ hatred & loathing from the start, feel 
> compelled to humiliate him from the start?  I know, I know, it 
> likely **is** part of DD's plan of ensuring that Harry doesn't 
> become big-headed, BUT Snape clearly goes farther with it than he 
> needs to.  Why not wait 'til Harry does something stupid?  Why not 
> wait 'til Harry forgets a step?  Instead, he starts it all when 
> Harry really & truly has done nothing wrong.  Do I blame Snape for 
> this inappropriateness?  You bet I do.  He is smart enough to have 
> done better!  I think part of Snape's treatment of Harry is an act, 
> but I think part of the time he really can't control his loathing.  
> THAT is where I blame him. 

Potioncat:
Well, I'm working under a handicap here, I can't find my SS.  But I'd 
like to toss in my impressions.  

In this episode, Snape comments that Harry hadn't read the 
assignment.  So it seems to me, that Snape might have expected 
students to be able to answer the questions, even if he anticipated 
that most would not. I've had quite a few teachers myself who would 
more likely call on the unprepared student than the prepared one.   

Harry's aware of the stir he causes, as he travels around Hogwarts, 
I'm sure Snape is. So Snape tests Harry by asking difficult questions 
from the reading material he assigned. Then makes the "fame isn't 
everything..." comment. This can either be to distance himself from 
the Dark Lord's bane,(in front of the DE children) or to deflate the 
ego he expects of Potter. It also serves to show the other students 
that they had better come to class prepared.

But it isn't nice.

Potioncat who can defend Snape in fiction, but wouldn't want him as a 
teacher in the RW.