Snape's Confundus line in PoA

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 147124

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "amiabledorsai" 
<amiabledorsai at y...> wrote:

> Carol:
> > Or quite possibly, he realizes that, as Hermione points out
> > earlier ("We attacked a teacher! We're going to be in so much
> > trouble!"), Snape has actually prevented their expulsion by
> > telling Fudge that they were Confunded. (Hogwarts students
> > don't cast spells that knock out teachers with impunity. Only
> > Snape's statement that they didn't know what they were doing
> > prevents further inquiry.)
> 
> Amiable Dorsai:
> If such is his intention, he need merely say nothing about the 
> attack at all.  No, his purpose is clear: he wants to discredit the
> Trio's story before they can tell it.  He succeeds admirably.

Not to mention that Snape goes into full CAPSLOCK mode by the end of 
the book, enough to draw surprised commentary from Fudge: 

"Fellow seems quite unbalanced," said Fudge, staring after him.  "I'd 
watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore." (PoA, American HB, p. 
420)

I admit, I'm probably not creative enough to come up with a good 
explaination of how Snape was being helpful in that situation.  It's 
never made textually explicit, but I don't wonder if that public 
meltdown permanently colored Snape in Fudge's perceptions, also 
tipping him over into the 'nutter' category along with Harry Potter.

-Nora also thinks the whole scene is somewhat pointless if not 
sincere rage, but that's been hashed over to death already