Snape can't stand being called a coward--or not

[Marianne S.]

No: HPFGUIDX 135791

Juli <snip>:
> "Kill me then," panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage
and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him [James], you coward--"

Marianne S:
I agree with most of your analysis of the first and second time Harry calls Snape cowardly (though I think you meant the name in parentheses to be Dumbledore? However...

Juli wrote:
> Then Harry feels a white-hot whiplike something hit him across the
face, and is slammed back against the ground. (And is the first, and
only, time Snape physically takes action against Harry)

Marianne S: I don't believe that white-hot whiplike somethng that hit him was from Snape. 
I believe it was buckbeak's wing as the hippogriff is on its way to attack Snape. So, and I think I've said it before, I don't believe that Snape EVER attacked Harry directly, but only kept instructing him til the end. Clearly Snape must know about the horcruxes in order to have helped Dumbledore after the ring... and as far as we know, the only other ones who know are Harry, Ron, Hermione, likely Slughorn.. and R.A.B. Anyone else have thoughts as to who else might know about the Horcruxes?

I surmise that it takes a LOT more courage than we know about at this point to --

1) still make LV believe that you're on his side, despite reporting everything you know to Dumbledore. (I think even the fact that Snape tells Bellatrix that Dumbledore recently sustained an injury, but he doesn't add that Snape himself knew what to do and acted to save DD's life was significant proof that Snape's not telling Voldemort everything, yet Dumbledore's knowledge of what Draco's been up to seem to support that he is telling all to the headmaster.)

2) It takes a lot of courage to follow orders to kill the only person who truly and deeply trusts you. .

3) It takes perhaps even more courage to have to make yourself appear to be the bad guy by the people whose side you're actually on (the Order) in order to most effectively continue your more and more dangerous task... following Dumbledore's orders which not only includes clearing the path for the death and demise of Voldemort, but keeping Draco and perhaps even Harry safe. The other Order members and teachers who trusted Snape only seem to because Dumbledore insists on it and won't hear a word against him... Lupin, who had other reasons to trust Snape than just Dumbledore's word, seems the most shattered by the *belief* that Snape killed Dumbledore acting only as a Death Eater. So, by following Dumbledore's orders, Snape has put himself in more personal danger than he ever has been in before

So what I really can't wait to find out in Book 7 is... will Harry find this out before it's too late?

Marianne S.