Snape and Harry and expulsion LONG

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 188951

Montavilla47 wrote:
> <snip> In this scene, I don't think Snape did anything wrong.

Carol responds:
I agree. Well, the number of points he took off was rather large, but he was escorting Harry to safety and no doubt angry that he had somehow managed to endanger himself despite all the protections. And worse, he's refusing to provide any information. Snape has no way of knowing that Harry, whose life he has yet again protected (the MoM) blames *him* for the death of the man he (Snape) told to remain at 12 Grimmauld Place.  

Montavilla47: 
> It would have been *nicer* of him to let Harry wash up first.  Then again, it might have given Harry an opportunity to bolt again.  Better safe than sorry.

Carol responds:

Well, yes, but can you imagine Harry's reaction (and suspicion)if Snape were suddenly nice to him?

Snape: Oh, Harry, are you hurt? We were so worried about you!

Harry (To himself): You hypocritical SOB! You don't give a damn whether I'm injured or not! (Aloud): I'm not hurt!

Snape: I can see blood on your face, Harry. Obviously, something happened--

Harry: It's nothing! It's none of your business!

Snape: I am a teacher and a member of the Order, Harry. I am here to escort and protect you--

Harry: You just want to know what happened so you can deduct points from Gryffindor!

Okay, maybe it wouldn't have happened exactly that way, but Harry would certainly see any uncharacteristic niceness on Snape's part as grounds for suspicion--and with reason. The last DE who was nice to him, Barty Crouch Jr., tried to send him to his death.

Snape is merely behaving in character as a teacher who sees Harry as an arrogant rule breaker and as an Order member who is secretly protecting Harry. He can't find out what happened by asking Harry. I suspect, however, that he has already seen a gloating Draco making nose-smashing gestures to his fellow Slytherins and has some idea of what happened.

And making Harry walk into the room with blood on his face in "Muggle attire" certainly doesn't hurt Harry, however angry it makes him (as if he could be any more angry than he already is). It does, however, prevent him from hiding the consequences of his misbehavior (spying on the Slytherins under his Invisibility Cloak) from Dumbledore.

I'm sure that it's quite clear to Snape (and to Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey) that Harry is unhurt, even before Hermione cleans the blood off his face. No one comes rushing to his aid because he clearly doesn't need it.

Carol, wondering what the Gryffindors would have done to Draco if he'd spied on them wearing an Invisibility Cloak