The Powerful Slytherin (Re: Snape/Harry coincidence?)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 140729

> >>houyhnhnm:
> Prior to Harry's remark there is a lot of familiar language leading
> the reader to expect the same old same old.  Snape speaks "curtly",
> "dismissively".  His gaze lingers on Harry "maliciously". Harry
> reflects "bitterly". He maintains a silent snarky running commentary
> on everything Snape says.  Snape looks "just as much like an       
> overgrown bat as ever".  Harry waits "on tenterhooks". He          
> replies "stiffly". 
> Then out of the blue "The words escaped him before he knew what he 
> was saying ... 'There's no need to call me 'sir', Professor.'"  
> It still strikes me that a code shift has taken place.  Maybe      
> Harry's words cannot be considered fully mature, but it seems to me 
> they do represent an advance over the childish defensive stew he    
> was in just moments before.  It is certainly a more *Snape-like*    
> response. 

Betsy Hp:
Ah, I see what you're saying here.  Harry wasn't being defensive (as 
he's always been with Snape, IIRC), so there *is* a shift of 
behavior.  I still think Harry was being childish, but it was a much 
more...familiar form of childishness, I guess.  At this point I think 
Harry sees himself as "over Snape".  A continuation of his 
familiarity from the end of OotP perhaps?  (His "Deciding what curse 
to use on Draco" remark.)  

This might actually explain why we see so little of Snape's DADA 
class.  Harry is rather good at it and so he wouldn't be as easily 
embarrassed into trying as he was in potions.  And if he's as 
dismissive of Snape as this exchange suggests, I doubt Harry paid all 
that much attention in class.  More than likely we would have been 
treated to endless monologues of Harry wondering about Draco.  Maybe 
some intense study of Draco's deteriorating appearence (I believe 
they shared this class).  Every once in a while there'd be an eye-
rolling dismissal of Snape's lesson that day, but probably very 
little interaction between the two.

And, interestingly enough, Harry doesn't pick up any new DADA tricks 
this year.  In his battles he uses the same old, same old (including 
his beloved Crucio - is no one going to talk to him about that? Other 
than Snape I mean).  Oh!  But he *does* use new spells he learned 
from the half-blood Prince.  Interesting....  Because I do think 
Harry shot himself in the foot with his dismissal of Snape.  That's 
where I see the childishness slipping in.  It's foolish to mock 
someone you can learn from.  And Harry obviously needs to learn how 
to do nonverbal spells.  We also know that Snape is Billy Bad-ass 
when it comes to dueling.  Harry could have done well to try and 
learn from him.  But I think Harry feels such a contempt for Snape 
now (side affect of the familiarity), he doesn't recognize Snape has 
anything of value to teach him.

> >>houyhnhnm:
> It doesn't lead to any improvement between them, unfortunately.  As 
> Jen said, the eavesdropper reveal (and the events on the tower) put 
> the kibosh on any progress Harry could have been making toward a    
> better relationship with HBP/Snape.  (And I agree that the language 
> used in Snape's response to Harry in the classroom that day is     
> probably due to a change in Harry's point of view rather than a    
> change in Snape's behavior.)

Betsy Hp:
No, it doesn't.  Actually, I think it leads Harry to be far too 
dismissive of Snape.  If Snape actually *is* ESE! he'll find Harry an 
incredibly easy target.  If Snape is DDM! than Harry will be hard-
pressed to accept his help.  Either way Harry will need to further 
assess his take on Snape.

(I wonder how Snape took the new view Harry has of him?  He doesn't 
seem to act any differently himself, but he must have picked up on 
Harry's new attitude.)

> >>Jen:
> > Lily must be the remaining person who has something very         
> > important to teach Harry. I'm tending toward her over Snape now, 
> > because of what you said here. The outcome will relate to Snape, 
> > but perhaps the learning part won't.

> >>Saraquel:
> I've been thinking for some while now that *both* Snape and Lily are
> essential for Harry to learn how to defeat Voldemort.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I think you may be right, Saraquel.  While I'm reluctant to guess 
exactly *how* they're both going to help Harry (I did like your idea 
of forgiveness, though) I have a feeling that their story is 
intertwined somehow.  We have what appears to be two separate story 
threads going into book 7: Snape's true loyalties (Voldemort, 
Dumbledore, himself?), and Lily's past (the power she used to protect 
Harry, her school-days, etc.).  I think it'd make sense to combine 
those threads somehow.  And I think there've been a few hints dropped 
that suggest there is a link between Snape and Lily.

I have a sneaking suspicion that learning more about Lily will 
somehow force Harry to reassess his views on Snape. 

Betsy Hp