Why Snape Can't Be Evil

[catjaneway]

No: HPFGUIDX 134214

Schumar:  
<snip> I think within the gloating that Snape was also trying to 
warn Harry... or maybe even see if he could remember back about 
legilimency and know that Dumbledore was instructing Snape to kill 
him.  Anyone else agree?

Annette: 
Yep, Me for one :)

Also, SS wouldn't let Harry use an unforgivable curse. Blocking him 
and instructing him to 'remember to close your mind'. OK so it 
wasn't said very kindly , but he was doing him a favour , big time. 
Sort of like, 'when it's your turn to fight LV not me, block your 
mind !' Sanpe don't do pretty but he has always protected Harry and 
knows his destiny.
> Annette.

Now Janeway:

If Snape was giving Harry instructions, it looks like JKR doesn't 
intend for him to follow them. This is from her Mugglenet/Leaky 
interview, part 2:
 
"I had an interesting discussion, I thought, with my editor Emma, 
about Draco. She said to me, "So, Malfoy can do Occlumency," which 
obviously Harry never mastered and has now pretty much given up on 
doing, or attempting. And she was querying this and wondering 
whether he should be as good as it, but I think Draco would be very 
gifted in Occlumency, unlike Harry. Harry's problem with it was 
always that his emotions were too near the surface and that he is in 
some ways too damaged. But he's also very in touch with his feelings 
about what's happened to him. He's not repressed, he's quite honest 
about facing them, and he couldn't suppress them, he couldn't 
suppress these memories."

So Harry has "pretty much given up on doing or attempting" 
Occlumency for some pretty integral psychological reasons. Sounds 
like once again Snape just doesn't "get" Harry. To me his insistence 
that Harry play by LV's rules (mouth shut, mind closed) doesn't 
sound like valuable advice from a caring mentor.

Janeway