On lying and cheating

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 165258

> "eggplant107" wrote:
> >
> <snip>
> > 
> > Well OK, Harry did lie to Snape about the book, but Snape is the enemy
> > and you should never EVER tell the truth to the enemy as they may be
> > able to turn it to their advantage.
<snip>
> colebiancardi:
> well,  at this point in the book, Snape is not the enemy (and in my
> opinion, never is the enemy) - he is trusted by Dumbledore.  So, that
> is not the reason why Harry lied to him.  Harry lied because he knew
> that Snape would take the book away and Harry didn't want that.  Harry
> knew that his use of the book, even though there may not be any
> *written* rules on it, was on the line of dishonesty.  If it wasn't,
> why hide the book?  Why be afraid that Snape would take it away?  
> 
> Snape's comments to Harry about being a liar & cheat were, IMHO,
> personal.  <snip>

Pippin:
There's an episode in CoS no one has referred to yet that throws some
light on this. When Filch's cat is found petrified, Harry gives a
lame account of what he's been up to. Snape suggests that he be
banned from Quidditch until he feels inclined to tell the truth. 
McGonagall protests and Dumbledore backs her up -- there is
no evidence that Harry was involved in the attack or is concealing
something about it.  Harry doesn't tell anyone about the voice
in the walls, but he himself isn't sure at this point that it
could have anything to do with what happened, or that the adults
would believe him if he told them about it.

Compare this to the situation after the bathroom attack, in which
Harry obviously does know something related to dark activity
which he isn't telling. I think Colebiancardi is right --
Snape's remark about being a cheat *is* personal. McGonagall
backs Harry's punishment for lying not because he's being a cheat 
(which she doesn't know) or because she doesn't approve of his
defending himself, but because he's withholding evidence. 

McGonagall isn't the enemy -- there's no reason Harry couldn't
have told her about the book if all he feared was that Snape
might use it to his advantage. But Harry wanted to keep his
edge in potions class, and had to conceal the Prince's interest
in Dark Magic to do it. Highly ironic, of course.

Pippin