mistaken motives was Re: Why has DD never suggested Snape thank Harry? (

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 117585


 
 Alla:
 
 Actually, you make a VERY good point here. See, I did not go as 
far  as Pippin to think that Snape's behavior at the end of book 5 
could  be interpreted as him congratulating Harry, but I was ready 
to give the man some credit for agreeing that Harry and Co do 
deserve points.
> 
> 
 BUT he indeed took those points away in the first place. Now I 
think  that he just did not want to lose face in front of Minerva, 
whom I  do believe he respects.
 
 Now I think that if Snape KNEW what Harry just went through, his 
 behaviour was sadistic. Typical Snape style.

Potioncat:
You know, I've often read the books as if Snape knows what's going 
on and shows up in time to stop Draco and Harry from going at it. 
(Not sure whom I thought he was protecting)

But it's just as likely that JKR has Snape showing up just in time 
to get the wrong idea.  Particularly if Snape does think Harry is 
just like James and if James really did hex people for the fun of it.

At the end of OoP, it reads to me that Snape walks into the entrance 
hall in time to see Potter pointing his wand at Draco, whose wand is 
still in his pocket. Snape askes what Potter is doing and Harry says 
he's deciding which hex to use on Draco.  (From memory, sorry if I'm 
wrong.)  Snape suggests taking points, says there aren't any to take 
and is interrupted before he can say what he will do...detention? 
forget about it? send Potter to Filch?  treat the boys to ice cream? 

But he makes no protest when McGonagall suggests rewarding the 
students for revealing LV.  McGonagall manages to split Crabbe and 
Goyle from Draco then sends Draco and Harry outside.  I assume she 
and Snape think Draco is harmless without his minions. I think 
McGonagall took the 10 points away to keep Snape from losing face. 
He had just suggested it when she came in.

I don't think Snape was being at all sadistic.  Either he was 
walking in on a scene and jumped to the wrong conclusion or he knew 
what was going on and was breaking it up.  It reminds me of the 
scene when Neville was going to attack Draco for making fun of 
patients at St. Mungo's.  Harry was holding Neville back when Snape 
opened the door and Snape docked Gryffindor for fighting. (But he 
didn't dock them very much.)

Actually, I think McGonagall has taken more points from Gryffindor 
than Snape has when there has been a Gryffindor-Slytherin conflict.  
(Late night out of bounds when she thinks Harry tricked Draco about 
a dragon  and fist fight between Weasley/Potter and Malfoy after 
Quidditch game.)

Potioncat