CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 5. The Whomping Willow

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 188807



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
<snip>
> The only idea I come with is that Snape hoped that if he can make
> sure that Harry is expelled then he can get out of his promise to 
> Dumbledore to protect him (again, goes without saying that I am
> speculating here and have no canon to support it). But then I am 
> thinking – um, Dumbledore could have just as easily order Snape to
> follow Harry into muggle world or other wizarding school or
> something to make good on his promise, so that does not fly either.
> See my problem?
>

I favor the explanation that others have given that Snape wanted to impress upon Potter the seriousness of the car being seen.  Further, Snape had just listened to the two boys wish him ill or sacked, when he seemingly skipping dinner to find them.  He probably wanted to rattle their cages a little bit in return.  Snape was not inclined to be fair or kind to Potter.  He saw the hated father in the boy, and this reckless adventure probably confirmed that likeness in his mind.  I'm sure he felt James Potter should have been expelled many times over, and he may have transferred that impulse to James' son.  In this, Snape was regrettably human.

Did he really want Potter to be expelled?  I start from the premise that Snape was trying to fulfill his vow to protect the son of a woman he loved and whose death he felt responsible for.  I think this is what Rowling wanted us to believe, that no matter how imperfect Snape was, he kept his word and worked under Dumbledore's orders.  If you accept this premise, then it should logically follow that Snape's actions sought to protect Potter, in the short run, and achieve the greater good, in the long run.  Protecting Potter could have meant either placing him with the Dursleys on a more permanent basis, or it could have meant making him aware that he couldn't be irresponsible in a dangerous world where, if Muggles could see Potter in a flying car, Death Eaters could see him, as well.

Then there are the human factors like Snape's temper and dislike for Potter.  There's also the fact that Rowling's characters changed personality from book to book as required by the needs of the plot, so looking for consistency is a dodgy game, at best.

I think the problem you are having interpreting Snape's actions is that you start from the premise that Snape is selfish, weak and evil.  To me, this premise was invalidated with The Prince's Tale.  If, as you say, you have no canon to support your speculations, I suggest you examine the assumptions you seek to support in the first place.

lealess