GoF CH 27-29 Post DH look/ Snape and Harry and Gargoyles

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 182159

> Potioncat;
> I know you think Snape was trying to hinder Harry, while I think he
> was actually helping. There have been several scenes between Harry
> and Snape that have looked like nothing more than Snape goading him,
> but in fact had a different purpose. I think it was Carol who pointed
> out Snape's reaction to Harry sneaking out of the castle.
> 
> The only moment I can think of that doesn't seem to have a purpose is
> the "Oops" when Harry's potion sample breaks. Are there any others?
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> LOLOLOLOL. Over the years of Snape debates I had heard purposes 
> invented to practically every incident of Snape v Harry. Half of them 
> in my opinion do not stand logical scrutiny at all, but the fact that 
> purpose can be invented really does not tell me much.
> 
> For example, you think that OOOPs does not have any purpose and I 
> agree with you, well, do you remember that it was not really Snape 
> who did it, but it broke down on its own?
> 
> Do I think this is plausible? Not at all, but hey, it is an opinion 
> as any other.

Montavilla47:
Having looked at that passage, I do find either interpretation of that
moment valid.  Harry assumes that Snape has broken the vial 
because of course if Harry had done so, it would have been an 
accident and he wouldn't have noticed.  Both interpretations (that
a:  Snape broke the vial and b: that Snape didn't and was merely 
gloating over Harry's clumsiness) seem to me equally supported by 
the text.

Alla:
> Recently mentioned PoA incident –  purpose, what purpose?

Montavilla47:
Which incident?  Snape telling Harry about James?  I think
Snape was provoked in that case when he learned that Dumbledore
had told Harry a stupid, insulting lie.

Alla:
> Snape insulting Hermione's teeth? I am pretty sure somebody came up 
> with purpose for that as well, does not mean that I give any value to 
> the purpose whatever it is.

Montavilla47:
You got me on that one.  I have come up with an explanation that 
satisfies me, but it has nothing to do with helping or protecting
Harry.

I have heard one that Snape is using the incident to push Harry
and Ron towards reconciliation by offering himself as a common
enemy.  But, I doubt he'd do that consciously.  I doubt he'd care
whether Ron and Harry were friends or not.

Alla:
> Snape taking Harry's book away in PS? Sadism, pure sadism in my mind. 
> Snape reading newspaper about Harry in class even bigger sadism if 
> you ask me.

Montavilla47:
Frankly, I think the book was just Snape enforcing school rules.  The
newspaper thing?  Pure spite.

Hehe.  I'll bet Snape loved it.

Alla:
> Snape assigning Neville to cut toadthings? Yeah, IMO no purpose 
> whatsoever except torment.

Montavilla47:
I can never get that excited about this egregious punishment.  I had a 
cat and I loved him dearly.  But, if for any reason I was in a class where
we had to disect cats, I would have been able to do it with no problem.

Look, when you make potions, you have to prepare the ingrediants.  
Neville wasn't disecting Trevor for goodness sake.  

In Charlotte's Web, Fran loved Wilbur.  Didn't mean she stopped 
eating bacon.   She probably watched the pigs being slaughtered,
too.  When she was old enough, she probably helped.