Mr. Snape, not Saint Snape

[tbernhard2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 135601

The way both other teachers at Hogwarts, and other members of the
Order of the Phoenix, aside from Dumbledore, treat Snape is evident
when Potter begins spreading the story of what happened on the tower.
Order members all say that, well, Albus trusted him, so we did. Same
with the teachers. Oh, Albus tried to instill respect for the man, but
it was always just a forced "Sir" or "Professor". Now, this never
quite trusting Mr. Snape but for the vigilance of Albus, is a little
shameful, but it is there.

Now, this means, then, that they didn't trust him for himself, but
because their boss did. Sirius was an exception, but, well, Sirius is
dead, darn it. Anyway, this weak sort of acceptance couldn't have been
very nice for Mr. Snape - surely he'd have seen through it. It would
have rankled anyone, really.

No wonder Mr. Snape seems more fully and completely himself when
parrying with Cissy and Bella at Spinners End. No air of unspoken
distrust here. Nope. Here everything is out in the open. What a relief
to be in a space where Mr. Snape doesn't have to hide his past, or
downplay it, or act in such a way that it is never brought into
question. Playtime is over, folks. He talks pretty clearly about his
work at Hogwarts. Was never this clear at Hogwarts about his role in
the DE, that's for sure. 

Now, some have defended Mr. Snape by saying that he was trying to
protect Harry as Mr. Snape left with Little Draco Malfoy. If Mr. Snape
was undercover, why would he stop a crucio or two aimed at Potter?
Wouldn't that raise suspicion, to stop it? If Mr. Snape was not
undercover, but a DE, why would he stop a crucio or two aimed at
Potter. All for the cause, the morale! Of course, I think Snape is a
DE and he knows it's useless to try to do anything final with Potter
cause Snape has figured out or been told or mind whatever'd someone
for the whole prophecy. 

Mr. Snape stops Harry from cursing him, but doesn't really do much
back to Potter - a taunt or two. Now, this is evidence of what? That
Mr. Snape cares about Harry's ethical progress? That his behaviour
remains legal? I don't understand. It's more like Mr. Snape is sizing
him up, and maybe, just maybe, hoping the damn Potter kid has enough
wherewithal to destroy Voldemort so Mr. Snape can reform the DE into
something less of a personality cult, and more of a secret society again.

If I said maybe he just wanted to be nice and give poor Harry a break,
or that he was understanding of Harry's feelings and really *cares*
what happens to him, you'd say I was being sarcastic. And so I would be.

Snape wanted to get the heck out of there, and make a successful turn
of a botched little Draco Malfoy job. So no dilly-dallying, they are
all ready to leave now, and Potter's been disarmed, let's just go.

At any rate, stopping curses aimed at Potter, or stopping Potter's
curses, is in no way evidence of any sort of joint Mr. Snape/Albus
plan, or any sort of concern for Harry, other than that he doesn't
screw up and lose to that crazy Voldemort jerk.

dan