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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 97493

Pippin:
>>He doesn't know that Harry's scar hurt, so 
 he can't know the real reason for Harry's actions. What was he 
supposed to think?<<

Alla: 
> OK, but to me touching his forehead does not even come close 
to Harry  mimicking Snape. :o)<

Pippin:
Oops, that's not what I meant. I meant that Snape would think 
Harry was pretending that Snape was so ugly that it gave him a 
headache just to look at him. 


Pippin:
>> We might imagine Snape walking a  tightrope in PS/SS, using 
his hatred of Harry as a shield against  legilimency while 
desperately trying not to act on it.<<

Alla: 
> Nope, that is not what I meant. I just meant that in general 
Snape  supposed to be in control of his emotions.
 I DON'T think that he is always in control of his emotions since I 
 read Shrieking Shack scene, actually. I especially don't think that 
 he is in control of his emotions since OoP, since I think that 
 pensieve scene is the perfect example of how his emotions got 
the  best or should I say the worst of him. :o)<

Pippin:
I think Snape can control his emotions superbly, but not all the 
time, and especially not where Harry is concerned. He's a 
teacher, not a saint.

> > Pippin previously:
> > Now that's interesting. Suppose Snape went to Dumbledore 
> > immediately after the feast and tried to quit--do you think 
> > Dumbledore would have let him do it? 

Alla:
> LOL, Pippin! Imagine that scene. :o) Do you seriously think 
though  that Snape did not know that harry is coming to 
Hogwarts? Then he is  not a good candidate for the role of 
Dumbledore's trusting lutenant.<

Of course Snape knew. And I think he had instructions to  "try and 
treat [Harry] like any other student." PoA ch 21. But I think both 
Snape and Dumbledore realized, perhaps on that very first night,  
that he  wasn't going to be able to do it. So what would 
Dumbledore do then? Demand Snape's resignation? Well, it's a 
good thing he didn't,  because Harry might never have survived 
his first Quidditch match if it weren't for Snape. 

I get the impression that you think Snape could treat Harry better 
if he just tried harder. But what if Snape, like Neville, is trying
as hard as he can already?

Pippin