On lying and cheating

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 165265

colebiancardi Wrote:

> at this point in the book,
> Snape is not the enemy

We will know on July 21 if that is true or not, but regardless of that
outcome at this point in the story Harry had EVERY reason to consider
Snape an enemy and none to consider him a friend.

> he is trusted by Dumbledore.

And Harry strongly suspected Dumbledore was wrong in having that
trust, and as the book progressed his suspicion only deepened, and so
did mine.

> Harry lied because he knew that Snape 
> would take the book away and Harry didn't want that.

Yes.

> 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. 

I'm going to repeat a question I asked before because I received no
answer, if you can only use the standard textbook why does the school
have a library?

> why hide the book?  

You answered that question yourself, because he knew the enemy would
take the book away and Harry didn't want that. And of course should
never tell the truth to the enemy about anything if you can possibly
avoid it, just on general principles.  

> Snape's comments to Harry about being 
> a liar & cheat were, IMHO, personal.  

Yes indeed, the Snape-Harry hatred is about as personal as you can
get, even more personal than the Harry-Voldemort hatred. And you
expect Harry to trust him? Maybe JKR can pull a rabbit out of a hat
and somehow turn Snape into a good guy, I don't know, but I do know
that at this point in the story Harry would be a fool to trust a man
like that. A complete and utter fool. 

Pippin Wrote:

> McGonagall backs Harry's punishment
> [
] because he's withholding evidence. 

It's a pity you can't find something in the books themselves that at
least hints of this; it would really give the theory a boost.

> McGonagall isn't the enemy -- there's no reason
> Harry couldn't have told her about the book

She didn't ask. And besides, Harry has as much a right to have secrets
as anyone else, he is not duty bound to run to the authorities and
tell them every thought in his head.

Eggplant