What if Harry had cut Snape some slack?

[Vivian Borgin]

Imagine how much less angst would be flying around that dungeon!

What if Harry had:

*tried to feel sorry for someone as clearly unhappy as Snape, instead of deliberately smartmouthing and antagonizing him? How many pre-punishment speeches have featured lines like: "Manners, Potter!" or "Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter!" ?

*been willing to hear someone else's views on his father, instead of defending him with arrogance before considering another point of view?

*put hard effort into studying for Potions, and getting at least some of his homework done regularly?

*'fessed up and apologized to Snape about the stolen boomslang skin?

*did not ever Stun him, Stinging Hex him, or accuse him of continued Death-Eating?

*did not laugh in his face when the Marauder's Map called him an "ugly, greasy git"?

*did not spy on him when he was conversing privately with Karkaroff, already stressed out and feeling angsty over his old Dark Mark burning anew?

*controlled his temper, and did not shout, snarl, make sarcastic comments, or otherwise give in to Snape's provocations?

*did not repeatedly challenge Snape's already shaky anger management skills by calling Voldy by name?

I could go on forever. You get the picture.

I have just took out a part that belongs to book five, Try to not put spoilers in your posts

[Meg Boyd]

whoa....i never saw it that way...perhaps if he did give him slack things could be quiet different...

However it was Snape who offended Harry first...

I'm not saying it was an excuse for Harry's poor behavior, but perhaps not matter what Harry did Snape would always be a thorn in his side...

Yet in the end if Harry did apologize for his many offenses perhaps Snape would come around, yet I don't think Snape would trust the apology...

Hmmmmmmmmmm....i am thinking...................hmmmmmmmmmmm

[AccioNiffler]

Even if Harry was nice to Snape though, I dont think it would make THAT big of a difference, well, a little difference, but not much.

1. One of the reasons that Snape hates Harry is because of the things that James did, and Harry can't do anything to change that
2. Snape just plain doesnt like Gryffindor
3. Snape doesn't like Harry because of his fame (I think he's a bit jealous )

[Blaise Zabini]

Yeah, I think that for the two of them to get along, concessions would have to be made on both sides. I mean, though I do think that Snape is a strict teacher, which in no way detracts from his character, I do pity the way he is and feel as if a lot of the ways in which he's described come from Harry's POV. I mean, all we know of him is purely from the perspective of Harry, which is a bit skewed due to his loyalties to his father and Gryffindor. Not that any of that pertained to the topic at hand, but alas.

Anyway, I don't think I'd have liked it were Snape and Harry all chummy from the beginning. I do appreciate the enmity between them and think that that aspect brings out the best in both of their characters. Were this to disappear, the books would definitely be lacking in that respect. Were this to happen, I don't see any major plot changes that could occur, it'd just lose aspects of the Harry/Snape relationship that fit so well with the series.

[Mint]

Its true though, Harry is incredibly rude to Snape and unapriciative of the times when Snape tries to help him or save him.

Sorry MInt, i had to delete that little bit because of book 5 stuff. careful. ~zledm007

[Jenni]

wow! well personally, i think snape deserved it all (LOL) Besides, whoever came up with that topic must have been Snape-incarnate to remember all that ( only joking!!) anyway, i rather enjoyed the bit about the map calling him a greasy ugly git...best part in the whole book lol

[Gypsy]

And just think how different their relationship could be if Harry had decided to become malfoys friend on that first journey on the hogwarts express. Would snape favour harry the way he does malfoy? And would harry Snape like Malfoy does. How wierd would that b?

[zledm007]

i don't think snape would favor harry as he does malfoy even if harry would've become a slytherin and freinds with malfoy. i say this because snapes attitude toward harry is rooted in past events with harry's father, not harry himself, so i don't think harry's circumstances would change snape's attitude toward him. however, harry being in slytherin, snape's own house, might help a little, but only a little.

[Nightcrawler]

wow! well personally, i think snape deserved it all (LOL) Besides, whoever came up with that topic must have been Snape-incarnate to remember all that ( only joking!!) anyway, i rather enjoyed the bit about the map calling him a greasy ugly git...best part in the whole book lol

Bacause Snape was being a jerk at the time, I guess one could say that it was funny. But remember who was talking throught the map; fifteen year old James, Lupin, Sirius and Peter.

They would have programed the map to always hate Snape and that is very immature and unforgiving. They had no (well, very little) reason to hate a fifteen year old Snape, and they have absoloutly no reason whatsoever to hold a grudge against a fortysomething Snape.

Remember, the map is not speaking on behalf of the current James, Lupin, Sirius or Peter, all of whom do have a reason to dislike the current Snape. Instead the map is speaking on behalf of a fifteen year old group of jerks, who have no idea what Snape would have turned out like.