Snape's Worst (and Best!) OoP Moment?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 132569

> >>SSSusan:
> <snip>
> I was presenting what I felt to be *Snape's* worst moment in OoP.  
> I was not presenting a comparison between Snape or Sirius, nor did 
> I anywhere say, "Poor, totally innocent, sweet little Sirius."  Do 
> I think Snape behaved worse than Sirius in this encounter? Yup.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
What prevents this from being Snape's "worst moment" for me is the 
very fact that Sirius starts the fight and Sirius escalates the 
fight.  It's quite important, IMO, that Sirius starts the scene off 
by undermining Snape's authority.

"Sit down, Potter" [Snape attempting to take control of the 
interview by establishing that he is, in fact, in charge.]
"You know," [...] "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders 
here, Snape.  It's my house, you see."  [Sirius sending Harry a 
definite message that the adult authority figure in his life is a-
okay with him disrespecting and ignoring anything Snape has to say.  
Not something I think any teacher would approve of.  Can you imagine 
how McGonagall would have reacted to such goading?]
(OotP, scholastic hardback p.518)

Harry makes his first attempt to diffuse the situation by sitting 
down.  Snape attempts to continue the meeting by ignoring Sirius but 
Sirius refuses to be ignored. Snape demonstrates that at this point 
in time, when it comes to a battle of wits, Snape has the 
advantage.  I will say that Snape responds rather quickly to 
Sirius's goading, but as others have pointed out, there is a history 
at work here.

The meeting continues, Harry gets horrible news, Snape agrees that 
the situation is not good and he attempts to leave.  Sirius, for 
some reason, stops Snape from going and starts their little battle 
of wits up again. (519)  Except this time, Sirius stands up.  Harry 
notices that Sirius has the physical advantage and that Snape, 
possibly in response to a perceived threat, has gripped his wand. 
(520)

Despite his grip on his wand, Snape continues to battle verbally 
with Sirius.  Sirius takes out his wand and Snape responds by 
drawing his.  The interesting thing here, IMO, is that Harry tries 
to diffuse the situation (for a second time now) by calling Sirius 
by name.  To me this suggests that Sirius is the one acting out of 
control.  Especially with Sirius described as "livid" and Snape 
as "calculating". (520)

Now, with wands in hand and with Sirius clearly trying to intimidate 
Snape physically, the two proceed to verbally battle again.  And, 
once again, Snape, though not the first to speak, gets in the more 
powerful digs.  At this point Sirius actually raises his wand. (520)

Harry *again* tries to stop the brewing fight, and again he chooses 
to do so by attempting to stop *Sirius* from taking action. At this 
point Sirius is described as roaring and snarling his words, while 
Snape merely speaks. (521)  The Weasleys arrive and the fight ends.

To my mind *Sirius* is the one who chooses to fight with Snape.  
Snape merely responds.  Would it have been more mature for Snape to 
walk away.  Sure.  But with their history I think it's asking a lot 
of Snape.  Especially if, as I suspect, Sirius usually came out on 
top in their earlier clashes.  I think that, in many ways, Snape was 
fascinated to see Sirius react so to his goading.  And I think he 
enjoyed the fact that Sirius's taunts didn't hurt him as much as 
they used to.  You could say that this scene was all about Snape 
facing down his own personal boggart.  Unfortunately for Sirius, it 
also points out how far he's fallen.  He can't even get *Snivellus* 
to yield.

As to Snape's "best moment" in OotP, I totally agree with Magda.  
The entire end scene with Umbridge where Snape demonstrates the huge 
advantage to having a Slytherin on his side completely rocks, IMO.  
(Here's hoping Harry gets a wiff of a rich dark roast and starts 
taking the Sorting Hat seriously in the upcoming books.)  Exactly 
how many lives does Snape save that night?  There's Neville of 
course.  And since he's the one to inform the Order of Harry's 
probable actions, I'd say Luna, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry owe 
him a great big thank you as well.

Betsy Hp