Snape Overreacting

[Weasleyfanforever]

"So," he said, straightening up again. "Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences."

This quote is from PoA in Snape's office after he pretty much catches Harry coming back from Hogsmeade.

Why would Snape be so worked up? Harry only went to Hogsmeade, which, as Ron pointed out, was patrolled by the Dementors every night; and it was broad daylight and there were plenty of people around!

Was Snape just really mad because he thought Harry didn't care what other people think and just does what he likes, or did he really think Harry could have been in danger in Hogsmeade??

[Nagini]

It seems to me that Snape was using this as a means to provoke a reaction out of Harry. The continual references to "The Famous Harry Potter" would hint that he is goading Harry to make an outburst that included an admittance to being in Hogsmeade. I take from the way it was worded that Snape seemed to think that too many important figures such as Dumbledore and Fudge were wasting their time on a troublemaking youngster who he dislikes mainly because of his father.

[Kingsley]

I dont think Snape was overreacting to much actually, he did have a genuine hatred for Sirius at the time, and for everyone to be trying to protect Harry just for him to ignore it, did make Harry seem ungrateful and did not care about the consequences of his actions

Also detention with Snape would of course be safer it would seem-- with Sirius on the loose :rolleyes:

[Hermione]

In my opinon, Snape just may be acting like this, since it's Potter. His grudge against Potter is evident, and he always overreacts. As much as I'd like to say it's out of general concern, I'm persuaded to believe Snape would just rather get a confession out of Harry. He's had a bit of a problem pretending that he's desperately trying to get Harry expelled ;)

[Tinkerbell]

Snape does seem to like to take every opportunity of either showing Harry up in front of other students, or trying to pin something on him, so I think that he was just seizing the opportunity to have a go. I also think that Snape sees a lot of James in Harry and this aggravates the situation, particularly when Harry bends the rules to the point of snapping, and seemingly gets away with it!

[Alz]

Well I can see you are all looking at it on face value, so I will go with another route ...

Sarcasm has many uses in life but one of the many ways is that of concealment of feelings ...
While I can see the face value of this as well, I can also see a subtle undertone ...
On face value Snape despises Harry because he is so like his father, the same father that tormented Snape while at school ... while Harry appears benign in his action whereas his Dad was more malicious, Snape can't see past this and makes Harry's life a misery to salve the injured pride and sores of the past damage inflicted by James ...

Looking at it deeper and as always looking at the controversial, isn't it possible that Snape is using this sarcasm to conceal his uneasiness' that Harry keeps placing himself in danger?
If, and I say this is a big if, If Snape is looking out for Harry - he may feel very angry and worried that Harry went wondering off and could have fallen pray to Black or indeed the Death Eater movement ... his comments look to put Harry down but it is said in a fashion that makes Snape be sarcastic but underneath he is relieved Harry is OK ...
As I said, I don't expect people to agree here and also expect the usual closed mind answers but the world is a lot smaller to the closed mind ...

[Nagini]

The last paragraph there although I dont agree with it all, it does ring bells from a parent point of view. A lot of parents when their child is hurt due to their own fault or get themselves into danger, their first reaction towards the child is to be angry because they were afraid for that child or to hug them then get angry.

If Snape were to really care for Harry then its possible that the emotions he shows when he seems to hate and dislike Harry are because he has to keep his cover and because he loves Harry and is afraid that he will come to harm.

I still cannot see Snape loving Harry and I dont think Snape is Harry's father or anything but what if Snape knew that Harry was the one to save the wizarding world from destruction? It has been mentioned in different ways about the population of the wizarding race - I think Hagrid was the one to say they would have died out had they not bred with muggles. What if Harry is going to save the wizarding world and Snape knows this and gets angry because he worries that Harry will die before it happens?

[Alz]

You know the art of keeping Snape concealed has become a labour of love for JKR.
She builds him up as this nasty piece of work - but yet we see in his actions all the time a selfless undertone ...
Why does he spy at great personal risk?
Why does he do this for Dumbledore - a guy you often get to thinking he doesn't really respect?
I think Snape is someone how has 2 sides - JKR spends a lot of time emphasising this - but in very subtle ways - and it is this reason I feel that the guilt Snape carries - the reason he does put his life at risk etc - is because he is trying to recover from a past mistake ...
Given this happens a lot around Harry - I suggest the mistake has to involve Harry - and I think he feels beholden to him ... just a feeling ...

[yarvelling]

As a Hogwarts teacher, Snape obviously feels honour-bound to protect ALL students of the school. I guess it just pains him so much more when it comes to Harry, whom he now uses to openly channel the hatred felt for Harrys' father. If I remember correctly, in one of the books doesn't Dumbledore explain to Harry that Snape is also grudgingly trying to pay-off the debt; that magical bond, that Snape would have had with James after James saved his life? As James is now dead, I guess that debt/bond extends to Harry instead, and I'm pretty sure that annoys off Snape more than he could ever tell!!
So, when it comes to punishing Harry, he probably delights in exacting as much revenge as can get away with, and gives excessive punishments; I would think that trying to get Harry expelled would make him feel much better not having a Potter around anymore, and he wouldn't have to worry about paying-off the debt to James!
The way that I see the whole Snape and his hatred thing, is that Snape is the biggest fool here, because it is now almost purely down to Snape and his carelessnes that Harry knows the reasons behind it, and how foolish it had made Snape look at the time. Now that he allowed Harry find out, it's almost as though there is acute embarassment for Snape, which fuels his anger even more; now both towards Harry, and himself!!

[Alz]

I dont agree - I can see and fully respect your point - and on face value it seem to play like that ... but there is a subtle undertone to this ...
What could have been in it for Snape to be uttering counter-curse to Quirrels curse in PS/SS - it was a faultless crime if Harry had fallen to his death etc and if he hated him so - then there was a good chance he would have just let nature take it's course ...
I still think that there is a debt more that the life debt of James - I think Snape tries to protect Harry and one day - we will see exactly why ...
Great post Yarv!

[leggy]

here's what i think..Snape does care about Harry and being sarcastic is his way of hiding the fact that he cares about him..of course sometimes he does give Harry a hard time*like purposedly trying to fail Harry in Potions* but you just cant deny the fact that James Potter did things to him that even Harry isnt proud of..so Snape cares about Harry and yet,he hates him for looking so much like his father.