CHAPDISC: HBP28, Flight of the Prince

[quick_silver71]

No: HPFGUIDX 163606

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "colebiancardi" <muellem at ...> 
wrote:
<snip>
> colebiancardi:
> 6.	Snape loses his sardonic cool when Harry calls him a coward 
and
> refers to Dumbledore's death. This is the only time during the 
battle
> that Snape actually hits Harry with a curse. Why did Snape show his
> weakness to Harry? What was it about that statement that pushed 
Snape
> over the edge?  Harry called Snape a coward earlier, yet Snape just
> jeered at him then. Was it really about being called a coward or 
that
> Harry accuses Snape of killing Dumbledore?  This is my favorite
> question, BTW.  I can't wait to read the responses.

Quick_Silver:
I think that I may be a combination of factors. First I'm not 
convinced that Snape had any idea that Harry was actually on the 
Tower and witnessed what he did to Dumbledore. So when Harry seems to 
imply in his taunt that Snape killed Dumbledore it cuts Snape to the 
bone because Harry witnessed Snape's greatest low moment...the forced 
death of Dumbledore. 

Secondly (total speculation here) I think that Snape hates to be 
called coward because there's a ring of truth to it (at least in 
Snape's opinion). Objectively Snape comes across as a courageous 
person...the years of spying, the great personal risk, etc...but when 
I read the books, with the exception of Snape and Dumbledore scene in 
GoF, Snape doesn't really come across as courageous (I don't know how 
else to describe it). I don't there's anything really wrong with not 
being courageous (besides Snape's not a Gryffindor) but I don't think 
that Snape thinks that. So when Harry calls Snape a coward it touches 
on that internal conflict within Snape and Snape leashes out against 
Harry.
  
Quick_Silver (who think Snape's moment of courage is still coming)