The Harry \ Snape Relationship

re-la-tion-ship. n. The state of being related; connection. (Funk and Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedic Dictionary).

Let’s make one thing clear. The use of ‘relationship’ as intended in this article has no emotional connotations included. Unfortunately, when most think of the relationship between Snape and others, their thoughts tend to color toward the obscene and yes, sexual. This is not to be even considered during the course of the article; instead, the word ‘relationship’ is to mean the state of being related, or a connection.

The Harry \ Snape relationship
This is a very delicate and complicated issue. One of the less dynamic, but equally important relationships in the series, the Harry \ Snape relationship and its development over the course of the series creates several interesting parallels to some of the more noticeable (and evident) relationships, most notably, the Harry \ Dumbledore relationship and the Harry \ Lupin relationship.

It is no surprise that this relationship is not evident, or one of the first that comes to mind when discussing those influential to Harry’s life. The relationship has not been emphasized until the fifth book, and even then one has to look past the blatant insulting manner of Snape to Harry and Harry’s hatred of Snape. Instead, Rowling does a masterful job in diverging our attention from this relationship, much like a magician, to events and people that seem important at the time.

But what has occurred during the course of the series (so far) is an evolution of the status of their relationship. Just comparing how Snape responds to Harry in the fifth book to the method used in the first book shows a marked difference.

What causes this? Both characters have changed; our perceptions of each change with each new book that comes out.

Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone:
Harry: Timid at beginning. Has had majority of life being beaten up, looked down upon, and roughly handled by family. Arrives at Hogwarts to a more heightened sense of importance, which is only furthered by friendships, and the confrontation of Voldemort.

Snape: Very cold. Becomes a second Vernon, admonishing ‘magic’ per se, and demeaning Harry at every moment. Yet there are additional confrontations outside the classroom, and actions lead to suspicion. At end, he is elevated (in Harry’s eyes) to someone who has morals (he tried to save Harry, after all).

Both: Snape hates Harry. Harry doesn’t hate him yet, just knows to avoid him. Distance of student\teacher is evident. And despite the fact he does have a sense of morals, the outer image of Snape dominates, as well as the impact of daily behavior which influences the image that Snape = evil.

Chamber of Secrets:
Harry: A little more confident now that a year is under his belt. Still seeks acceptance in group - this is challenged when he is deemed ‘Heir of Slytherin’. Faces challenge (Riddle) alone, though essentially the clue was found by Hermione. Comes out victorious.

Snape: Fights ‘fame’influence (furthered by Lockhart) -- continues to chastise Harry.

Both: Snape still hates Harry. Harry is still passive. And yet there is the hint that the distance is not absolute -- Harry cheers when Lockhart is blown away by Snape. Also he acknowledges that it was Snape that gave him tool to beat Lockhart.

Prisoner of Askaban:
Harry: Learns hard lesson of deception when what he thought he knew was wrong. This occurs several times over this book alone -- from Sirius wanting him dead, to Sirius betraying his parents, to learning the opposite is true in the Shrieking Shack. Becomes more aggressive also in defending family ties. Crosses the line from passive to active resistance (using Expelliramus on Snape). Note though that it was not only him -- friends still helped.

Snape: A year of disappointments. After having his sense of justice thrown out of whack (by letting Lupin come and teach), he is constantly confronted with his duty to the Headmaster to make the Wolfsbane potion and his desire for truth in having to hide the fact that Lupin is a werewolf. Also it is Potter’s ignorance in the workings of the world (‘Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been working to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black)’. There is a steady buildup with all of this which culminates in the loss of control in both the Shrieking shack and after.

Both: They have a greater mutual hate toward each other, but it is not because of something each one did -- it is more of circumstances. They are transferring anger (occurs even during the Shrieking Shack) of their own personal plight to other sources. Also the problem of perception plays a part. Much of their animosity here is caused by apparent ‘blindspots’ in perception. Thus, the line between student and teacher is faded; Snape sees Harry as more of a stupid child, and Harry sees Snape as more of a stupid adult.

Goblet of Fire:
Harry: Forced to fight through events alone; and while his friends are there to help him along, it is he who must ultimately face the obstacle alone. This is personified when Harry meets Voldemort. Also he starts to find interest in the opposite sex.

Snape: Must confront his past. Karkaroff, Moody, and the threat of a rising Voldemort are constantly on his mind. Meets his past by acknowledging it by admitting he was a Death Eater in front of so many people. (including Harry)

Both: The hostility between the two becomes open. Snape threatens him in class; Harry will insult him in class, openly. They do not hide it now. The line between student and teacher is almost gone, with Snape’s threatening to use deceitful ways against him. And yet, one sees a barely detectable change. I think this occurs when Harry is told that Dumbledore trusts Snape. Someone whom Harry depends on trusts Snape; this starts a section of doubting whether his first assessment of Snape was incorrect.

Order of the Phoenix:
Harry: After defying odds, he is suppressed by people who want to spare him the feelings. Harry gets fed up and is frustrated. When he does learn, and when he does take more of an involvement (going with his friends to get Sirius out of the Department of Mysteries) he learns that that too hurts. Is rather pragmatic when it comes to himself, but is willing to be rather irrational when dealing with others (ie, Sirius). This shows up when he starts blaming Snape for Sirius’s murder.Finding himself even further from his friends.

Snape: Has started working for the Order (doing what we do not know). When he teaches Occlumency, he is back to a very strict teacher\student relationship. Is conflicted between the information he must tell Potter and the information he must hide because of his dangerous position. What results is a mix of a loss of control, and at the same time an affirming of control. Does not allow this to interfere with ihs job however. Still acts behind the scenes.

Both: While their animosity is apparent, they are forced by outside circumstances to work together. And yet, what is gleaned from this forced paring is beneficial. Harry learns much information about the plot, what’s happening to him, and so forth. But a commonality is found when he sees Snape’s worst memory and he is forced to relate: “-- it was that he knew how it felt to be humiliated in the middle of a circle of onlookers, knew exactly how Snape had felt as his father had taunted him” (650). It is a bond that, while overshadowed by Harry’s grief, is important enough to start relating to Snape as a human being.

Further Developments:
It seems to me that the Harry\ Snape relationship has went through a definite development, one that can be traced on an almost upward movement. It is only natural that this continue, the two finding more and more in common. There might be still that initial tinge of anger and frustration, furthered by the most common behavior of the two. There still might be the deep sense of loathing that both feel whenever they traverse the same halls. But the two have shown evidence of understanding each others plight a little better. And while they can hate each other till the day they die, they can, at the same time, have an understanding that is distant from the fickle emotion that is hate, based on the they fact they are both human.

Any comments, disputes about my broad interpretations of the character’s development, or your own speculations, email me. This is only my opinion, so it is up for discussion.