The Inner Workings of Severus Snape

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Snape is described as a greasy haired, hooked nosed horrible man with yellowish teeth and cold black eyes. From the Golden Trio's first year he had been nothing but cynical, unsupportive and seemingly uncaring. But what if something was behind all of his actions?

Ok, Snape had been unrelenting from the start, never giving anyone a break or listening to what they have to say. He seemed to some down hardest on the weak or in his eyes anyone who isn't in Slytherin. He seemed to come down especially hard on the trio and Neville Longbottom.

"Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."

But maybe his behaviour helped them grow stronger. Neville stood up to Harry, Hermione and Ron by the end of the first year and while Snape had been nothing but cruel, he might have something to do with Neville suddenly taking a stand.

Ron can talk about Snape with anyone for hours and it gives him something to vent his anger on. I'm sure that this applies for most of the schools population and I'm also sure that Snape was well aware of this but he doesn't mention anything although it probably would destroy his credibility.

"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," said Snape coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

It's harder to see what he has unintentionally or intentionally done for Hermione except that he kept making her try her best to somehow get the mark she wanted and made sure that she didn't think too highly of herself. Where that is a bad thing or a good thing is for you to decide.

"That is just as well, Potter," said Snape coldly, "because you are neither special nor important, and it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters." "No -- that's your job, isn't it?" Harry shot at him. He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape's face when he answered. "Yes, Potter," he said, his eyes glinting. "That is my job."

And with Harry…He would slowly anger Harry till Harry would explode which he would always find immense pleasure in seeing but I do think Harry learned how to hold his anger better after each out burst. Not to mention that Snape always acted strangely after the outburst.

Snape killed Dumbledore and we're all heard ideas about how Dumbledore had pleaded for Snape to take his life instead of sparing it and how Snape saved Harry or maybe he was just following Voldemort's orders. I'm just wondering, if Snape hadn't wanted to kill Harry because of Voldemort's orders why hadn't he hurt him instead of just deflecting all of Harry's hex's? Or even place a tracing charm on Harry to know where he is at all times. It certainly would have pleased Voldemort and I'm sure that Snape had had the mental capability to think of something like that, so why didn't he?

"You are on probation!" shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

There's another things that confuses me. If Umbridge had been stunting Harry then why had Snape been unhelpful? I understand that he had to remain loyal to Dumbledore but why had he gone out of his way to be unhelpful when Umbridge was even extra kind to Slytherin.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not delusional enough to think that Snape is a real softly at heart. He is inconsiderate, insensitive and cold but I think that there might be more to his actions then simple hate and the desire for revenge for he did seem disgusted to have to work for Voldemort again. Then again you never know right?

"Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready ... if you are prepared ..." "I am," said Snape. He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely.