Why don't we ask why Snape wants Harry and Neville to hate him?

[miradourz]

No: HPFGUIDX 150588

Pippin wrote:

> We keep asking why Snape hates Harry and Neville so much,
> but what if that's the wrong question? What if Snape wants
> Harry and Neville to hate *him*? 
> 
 
I agree that Snape finds having Harry and friends hating him quite 
convenient most of the time. Mainly because if he wants to appear 
trustworthy to the Deatheaters, tales from their children of him 
being nice to Harry Potter wouldn't go down too well. Not to mention 
the fact he knows Voldemort could easily find out if he trusted Snape 
at their occasional meetings by reading his mind.
However, if you believe that Snape is actually on Harry's side and 
tries hard to protect him, its not surprising that he gets so angry 
with a child who is so reckless with his life in most of the books 
that he appears to have a deathwish! 
Taking a look at HBP p.563/4, Snape is described as having 'a face 
full of rage' and slaps Harry by means of a spell.Why? Perhaps it's 
because Snape is furious that someone he has tried so hard to keep 
alive has put himself in danger yet again by chasing after the 
Deatheaters alone, then had the foolishness to say "Kill me, 
then".Talk about ingratitude!

"miradourz"