McGonagall and Snape

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 112316

Juli wrote:
> 
> My opinion is that Snape does get along with the rest of the staff.
That doesn't mean he's best buddies with all, or even any, of them.
But I think we'd hear if there was a lot of tension between Snape and
other teachers, and I refer here to the permanent staff, not the
revolving door known as the Defense Against Dark Arts position. 
> 
> Since we mostly see Harry's POV, we don't really get to witness much
interaction between Snape and other teachers, except with Dumbledore
and McGonagall. We know Dumbledore trusts Snape and believes his
story, and all indication is that McGonagall trusts Snape equally.
Whether that is from her own personal experience or because she trusts
Dumbledore's opinions without question, I don't know. But I do think
McGonagall respects Snape as a fellow teacher and an ally against
Voldemort, while at the same time enjoying their house rivalries. She
might even like him a little, enough to perhaps have an occasional
social conversation with him over a cup of tea (which would take a bit
of bravery and tolerance, I should think!).
> 
> As for the other teachers, the best example comes from Hagrid, I
believe. Whenever Harry accuses Snape of anything devious or unsavory,
Hagrid repeatedly defends Snape. That's not an indication that Hagrid
actually likes Snape or would seek out his company, but he does seems
to respect Snape's teaching ability and integrity. I have a feeling
the other teachers feel the same. You can respect someone without
having the least desire to engage in a social relationship with that
person.

Carol adds:
My apologies for not snipping, but I agree with everything Juli said
here and just want to add a few more examples. In SS/PS Snape "made
himself unpopular" (implying that he wasn't unpopular before) by
refereeing the quidditch match. Apparently this unpopularity is
temporary; in CoS he initiates the reaction against Lockhart ("Just
the man. The very man") and the others follow his lead. The first to
do so is Professor Sprout, then Flitwick, then McGonagall (CoS Am. ed.
294). The friendly Snape/McGonagall rivalry shows up early and is best
exemplified by McGonagall's remark (in SS/PS?), "I couldn't look
Severus Snape in the eye for weeks," but it appears in almost every
book. More important, we see them together, as Dumbledore's most
reliable helpers, on several important occasions, most memorably when
Crouch!Moody is revealed as an imposter in CoS. The similarity of
their reactions on this occasion is interesting. (BTW, Snape must have
been McGonagall's student throughout his years at Hogwarts, but now
she treats him in every way as her equal.) My favorite Snape/
McGonagall scene is the last appearance of either character in OoP:
Snape almost amicably agrees to McGonagall's proposal to add more
points to Gryffindor's (and Ravenclaw's) hourglasses ("What say you,
Professor Snape?" "What? Oh--well--I suppose"). And he seems genuinely
glad to see her. )"Professor McGonagall! Out of St. Mungo's, I see!"
(OoP Am. ed. 852-53)

I think it's clear from these examples that Snape has the respect of
his colleagues and that he and McGonagall are on friendly terms
despite the significant difference in their ages though both are very
reserved and would never display their affection. Of course it's
strictly platonic, almost like the relationship of an older sister and
a younger brother who now must be treated as a fellow adult. He is her
full colleague, having taught for fourteen years, and like her, the
head of a house. Only when Dumbledore is out of the picture and she
has to step into her role as assistant headmistress does any
difference in their status appear, and there is never any friction on
those occasions.

Carol, who wonders what McGonagall does for the Order and why, on the
one occasion Harry saw her at Grimmauld Place, she was dressed as a Muggle