Why didn't Snape turn Harry in?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 159204

Alla:
> Second possibility IMO would be something in the book connected to
> the Prank, which Dumbledore may not have known and which would make
> Snape look complicit? I mean, I doubt that, I think *my memory is 
> as good as ever* means that Dumbledore knows a lot more than we do
> about that night, on the other hand he really did not know that
> they were animagi, so who knows?
 
Magpie:
> Ooh--that's kind of cool.  Though wouldn't he want the book out of
> Harry's hands if that was the case? That's sort of the conundrum 
> with the whole thing.  Snape's got to both care about something 
> enough to not turn Harry in to Dumbledore, but casual enough that
> he left the book unguarded and didn't do much to get it back when
> he realized Harry had it.

Jen: The Prank is a good idea, especially from the angle of 'what 
could possibly be left to be revealed?' Or maybe something about 
Lily, whether we like *that* storyline or not <g>.

Now about Snape appearing casual to retrieve the book from Harry. He 
seemed to very much want the book back during the bathroom scene and 
afterward. He chose a detention where he could keep his eye on Harry 
(hoping to get some information perhaps?), plus this bit: "He had 
not dared to return to the Room of Requirement to retrieve his book, 
and his performance in Potions was suffering accordingly [ ]. But 
Harry was sure that Snape had not yet given up hope of laying his 
hands on the Prince's book, and was determined to leave it where it 
was while Snape remained on the lookout." (chap. 25 p. 501 
Bloomsbury). So Snape would know from a conversation with Slughorn 
that Harry was suddenly doing poorly in Potions and would know why.

That's just my read of it, that Snape really wanted it back.
(Although I'll admit the flaw in my reasoning is that Snape didn't 
take Harry personally to Gryffindor Tower when he asked for the book 
so that Harry didn't have time to hide it!) Whether he wanted it 
back to get it out of Harry's hands or to keep it from Dumbledore, 
I'm not sure.  My sense is the latter. Snape wanted the book back 
before Harry discovered who the HBP was or something else personal. 
But then there's the problem that he told the information to Harry 
himself during the run across the grounds--is that a clue that with 
Dumbledore dead the book didn't matter anymore? *Head spinning*. 

Carol:
> I intend to bring up a question along these lines in the chapter
> discussion for "Sectumsempra" in November, but for now I'll point
> out that Snape not only didn't tell Slughorn that Harry was
> cheating, he didn't expel him, or request his expulsion, for using
> a potentially deadly spell. 

Jen: I'm not sure you want to discuss this more, but my take is that 
Snape didn't tell Slughorn because he would have to give at least a 
little information about why Harry was doing well before. Even if 
Snape didn't go into details about the book or who owned it, 
Slughorn might ask Harry questions and Snape doesn't seem to want 
anyone else to know about the book.

About the expulsion angle, even Snape wouldn't try that at this 
point in the game: Voldemort is on the loose and the Chosen one is 
meeting with Dumbledore for private sessions. I don't see that as 
altruism on Snape's part so much as something he would consider a 
waste of time.

Carol:
> I can only conclude that Snape is trying to help Harry somehow, to
> keep him safely in school, for one thing, but he may also want him
> to use the book. (Note that he didn't identify himself as the
> author of the spells and potions hints at that point, as he could
> have done.) Maybe if Harry had told him the truth about where he
> found the spell, Snape would have told the truth in return? Seems
> like yet another missed opportunity for understanding to me.

Jen: I can't quite see this angle, that Snape witheld his identity 
at the time so Harry would continue using the book. He uses 
Legilimens and demands Harry get the Potions book. He could have 
just as easily moved right on to talking about a punishment. Instead 
Snape seems very intent on finding out how Harry knew that spell and 
verifying what he suspects using Legilimens. Also, it seems out of 
character to me that Snape might 'open up' to Harry if Harry had 
told the truth. There has to be some semblance of trust for that 
type of communication to occur and perhaps some event will occur for 
it to happen in the future, but so far it's completely lacking on 
both sides. 

Jen R.