THEORY:Re: Snape and Neville

[hannahmarder]

No: HPFGUIDX 112039

AF:
> I think it is in Snape's interest to treat both children 
> equally horribly as he has no true evidence which child the
> prophecy is about.  This way, if Voldemort or other DEs 
> attempt legilimency/occlumency with Snape, Snape can back up 
> his 'story' that he has not left Voldemort.  

 
Hannah now: 
I agree with this, but there's another reason (IMO) as well.  Who 
do Harry and Neville have potions classes with? The Slytherins.  I 
bet Draco Malfoy would be pretty quick to report to his father if 
Snape was nice to Potter, Longbottom, or any of the other children 
whose parents have opposed LV.  When Harry tries to get Snape to 
help him at the end of OoP, it's not just that Snape can't risk 
admitting to understand Harry in front of Umbridge, but also that 
Malfoy and the other Slytherins mustn't be able to tell their 
death-eating daddies that it was Snape who alerted the Order to what 
was happening in the the DoM.  Oh, and I think that Snape's a nasty 
bit of work who enjoys bullying poor old Neville.