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

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 182177

> Magpie:
> Basically, it's exactly what Harry does with Snape from the very
> first day. He picks up a vibe (vibration--you probably got that
> part!) that Snape really dislikes him and...he's absolutely right. I
> think the first time because Snape glares at him during the banquet-
-
> does he glare? Or just look at him and Harry feels pain in his scar
> because of Quirrel? But in his first Potions class he gets the
> feeling that Snape hates him personally and he's right.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Well, of course he is right, hehe, I wanted to bring up the quote 
> from GoF about Harry thinking that yes, of course Snape saved his 
> life in PS, but he still hates him and thought how spot on he was.
> 
> But again, what I said to Leah, I mean, it is not that easy to pick 
> up feelings, no?
> 
> Harry gets it because of how Snape acts, no? Not just looking at 
> Snape and saying, oh wow, this one has it in for me all right. I do 
> not know, gestures, sneers, etc.

Magpie:
Yes, and that's a good point--when I try to picture how Snape would 
pick up vibes from Harry, I think a lot of it frankly going to be 
projection. As soon as Harry showed up he was seeing James and 
looking for any subtle signs that Harry was the same way. So I'd 
think he probably is sure that he's picked up all sorts of vibes from 
Harry that Harry didn't really send out.

But of course later on, once Harry really hates Snape, then I think 
he can definitely pick stuff up. Harry's no good Occlumency, and I 
think that probably spills over into his generally not always being 
good at hiding how he feels. He probably does sometimes wear 
expressions or use body language that show rebellion or insolence to 
Snape--of course this is often a response to whatever Snape is doing. 
But for instance, I can imagine Snape talking to Harry and getting 
the vibe that Harry is hostile when he is. He's probably gritting his 
teeth and looking at him sullenly. I can also see him always thinking 
that he totally knows what Harry's all about because Snape knows all 
about him even before he meets them. (He doesn't really, but he 
thinks he does, as you know.)


> Magpie:
> Now that it's over I'm actually willing to think Snape might
> sometimes be doing it but other times looking into his
> eyes "searching" for something else--they are Lily's eyes, and he
> might into them in other ways besides pure Legimancy.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Possible, although I think the author's intention at least was to 
> show that Snape looked in Harry's eyes for the first time and saw 
> Lily only when green eyes locked on black before he died.
> 
> So, I think if we go with metaphors, no I guess I do not think 
Snape 
> ever tried to really look in Harry's eyes to find Lily there, 
> otherwise he would have found her indeed. IMO.

Magpie:
Yeah, I admit I don't think he was often doing that either. Harry 
would probably have been really creeped out if Snape was really 
looking at his eyes and seeing Lily! But I do think that there could 
be times when Snape is just looking into his eyes trying to read him 
without resorting to actual Occlumency. It's disturbing to think that 
adults are constantly rifling through kids minds whenever they want 
to do it.

This actually makes me think...are there times where Snape really 
seems to get Harry when Harry doesn't want him to? I mean, we see 
Snape right away treating Harry as if he's done something terrible. 
There's plenty of times when he speaks for Harry as an authority 
(like telling everybody that Harry wanted to make a grand entrance in 
CoS...which is not true but a little true since Harry did think that 
would be cool, it just wasn't his reason for taking the car). But 
does he ever seem to really "get" Harry, or has he always got the 
wrong end of the stick and is only right when Harry's feelings are a) 
obvious or b) happen to coincide with Snape's preconceived notions?

-m