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

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 97413

 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?  

Potioncat:
> 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.   


Siriusly Snapey Susan:
I believe this is what you're thinking of, Potioncat.

"'Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?'
...He *had* looked through his books at the Dursleys', but did Snape 
expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and 
Fungi?"

Now, first, I would ask, do we KNOW that it was an assignment?  All 
we know is that Harry received his book list and that he purchased 
his books.  Were students explicitly instructed to begin working in 
them?  Harry **did** read "the assignment", did look through his 
books.  

As far as we know, Hermione is the only student who has a hand 
raised.  Do the others know the answers?

If Snape's goal is to show that he expects ALL students to take this 
class seriously, that he expects them to KNOW the material, then why 
not ask others these questions, too?  Why give all THREE questions 
to the same student?  If he were to have called on several others 
and shown that all/most were "not ready", his message of "You'd 
better take this class seriously" would likely have come through 
more clearly.  Instead, what came through was an appearance of 
*picking on* one student by asking all three questions of him.

If the room had been filled with students waving their hands, I'd 
have maybe understood.  I don't think we're SUPPOSED to get any 
message from this, though, beyond that Snape is going to treat Harry 
this way from now on.

Siriusly Snapey Susan