Snape and GOF

[Mari]

No: HPFGUIDX 144400

> Jen: You don't think Snape really views Harry the way he presented 
> him? I thought that was probably one of the truths he was telling! 
> In one sense, spreading that rumour about Harry having 'no 
> extraordinary talent at all' does protect Harry because he will 
> continue to be underestimated. In another sense, what a blow to 
> Voldemort's ego, outsmarted by a mediocre, underage wizard. 
Perhaps 
> that's why Snape explained that Harry is helped out by sheer luck 
> and talented friends, to assauge the Dark Lord's failure. I think 
> Snape meant everything he said about Harry.

Mari:

This is interesting, Jen. I was thinking mainly of CoS (which is 
connected in some ways to HBP) in which it is made quite clear that 
Snape is one of the people who figures out that Harry is a 
parselmouth. The way he acts at the duelling club suggests to me 
that he is not treating Harry as a 'mediocre' student but is, if 
anything, curious about what Harry will do with his ability (as 
regards the snake that erupts from Draco's wand).

Of course, in the end, either position is arguable.

Mari.