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

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 182162

 Alla:
> 
> I am sorry, I should have been more specific. I find laughable that 
> Snape will do something HERE on his own initiative, here in this 
> fragment. Him serving Dumbledore is of course we know about, we 
also 
> know that even though Snape initially disagrees with Dumbledore's 
> plan ( if we take position that Dumbledore does not know that Harry 
> will live), he goes along with it, because Dumbledore wants him to.
> 
> So, sure I agree that Snape is serving Dumbledore, I also agree 
that 
> Snape is protecting Harry's **life** as service to Dumbledore, 
> atonement to Lily, not so sure about. I mean he switched sides as 
> atonement for her death, yes, but he surely does not resist of 
> Dumbledore's plan, so that tells me that serving Dumbledore is 
> Snape's primary goal, IMO.

Potioncat:
I have to admit, I haven't fully worked out the timeline in GoF as 
revealed in DH. So I'm fuzzy on the details on when Snape learned 
different aspects of DD's plan. But yes, I think Snape was doing 
things for Harry's good on his own initiative all through the series.

And I may have made it look like Snape would have thought Harry's 
frantic need for DD was completely unimportant. I think Snape was 
evaluating Harry's message (or at least trying to) even as he kept 
Harry waiting for DD. I think that would have been an appropriate 
role for him. (I guess this is a me too to an earlier post.)
> 

> Alla:
> Do we really want to talk about Snape's reign as Headmaster?

Potioncat:
Well, I don't. ;-(  But I don't want to talk about Charity either.

I'd like to see a short story by JKR set at Hogwarts during that 
time. I'd like to see her vision of how it transpired. 


> Alla:> 
> 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?

Potioncat:
Of course I remember that. I remember that very clearly. LOL

The whole reason I like that little scene is that I was so surprised 
at how differently each reader filled in the blanks. It was very much 
like a TV episode that shows a single event from differnt points of 
view. As for Oops, none of us really know how the vial (or was it a 
flask?) broke. But I know that as I read the page for the first time, 
I thought the vial/flask fell off the table.

Actually, that's what's going on in this scene too. Each of us have 
come up with what we think is Snape's motivation for his actions.


> Alla:
> Snape insulting Hermione's teeth? >
> 
> Snape taking Harry's book away in PS? 

> Snape reading newspaper about Harry in class even bigger sadism if 
> you ask me.
> 
> Snape assigning Neville to cut toadthings? Yeah, IMO no purpose 
> whatsoever except torment.
> 
> I know one thing, to me canon supports Snape's hating Harry till 
his 
> bitter end with his answer to Dumbledore.

Potioncat:
Slow down! I can't type that fast! Particularly since my cat is 
trying to help.

Uh...Hermione and Neville aren't Harry and don't count. (Two down)

He took Harry's book so the Slytherin team would have a better chance 
at winning. Well, I'll bet there is a stupid rule that says books 
can't go outdoors. Sounds like something Pince would do.

Reading the newspaper was mean. Whether he did so out of spite for 
what he thought was going on or because he thought the Trio were 
reading the newspaper in class--couldn't say.

I don't think he hated Harry to the bitter end. Close maybe, but not 
all the way.

As for Hermione, not sure if he had any cruelty in mind, just didn't 
care, or what. It came as a painful event that the reader could feel. 
Hard to think that someone who had been teased for his appearance 
would not be sensitive to others' feelings about theirs. He could 
have just as easily sent her off with no comment. But it is in 
keeping with his reaction to other Gryffindors who had their 
appearance changed where he pretended not to notice the curse or to 
say it was the victims own spell gone bad. And whether it was his 
purpose or not, it gave him a way to explain to fellow DEs and the 
Big Guy that he had not enjoyed having the Trio as students and did 
not treat them well. (Come to think of it, both statements would be 
true.)

Neville and the toads--I think gutting toads is an appropriate 
punishment task. Someone had to do it. I think Snape's approach to 
Neville was all wrong, but even McGonagall wasn't particularly nice 
to him. Harry had a similar punishment involving sorting eels or 
something. 

I will sort of concede that not "every" interaction between Snape and 
Harry had a higher purpose. But quite a few of them have a different 
intention than they seem at first glance.