Snape's reaction to "Coward!"

I was reading HBP and in the chapter The Flight of the Prince, I started wondering, Why did Snape get so angry for being called a coward?

Was it because he had done something he didn't want to do or was it because of Harry's father?

it might be somthing we don't kow of yet. he knows that he is not a coward. and he is angry at the assumption harry made because he was fleeing

I think he took the remark of coward from Harry as a big insult, as he considered James to be a coward for bullying him at Hogwarts. My interpretation of it anyways.

Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.

I think its a mixture of both, plus if he IS good, no one else knows, and that makes him a coward in everyone's eyes, not only Harry's, and this must bite him.

Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.
This is basically whatI think about it; because of everything he'd done that past year he didn't like this kid telling him that he was a coward. Although it could be argued that he didn't like being called a coward because he was a spy ... but that doesn't really make that much sense. :shrug:

Diatssise (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=97481&page=8 )
That would be my explanation, Snape was 'forced' to kill Dumbledore to return to Voldemort even though he didn't want to kill Dumbledore. If this is true he is a double spy and that would be veeery risky with the 2 biggest wizards of 'all' time.

How many of us would have the nerve to put ourselves in the position of double agent for/against Voldemort? If Snape is good (and I hope he is), he killed Dumbledore on orders from Dumbledore, and is about to leave the safety of the school forever. He is about to throw himself to the lions with no place to retreat to. Even McGonigall doesn't know that he and Dumbledore had planned this. So he has gone completely underground with the only way out to vanquishe Voldemort. He will have to work alone and at great personal risk. The other death eaters will probalby still not trust him, or at least be jealous of him, and he will constantly need to look over his shoulder. Not the path of a coward. And to make matters worse, Harry throws this insult at him. I would be angry, too.

How many of us would have the nerve to put ourselves in the position of double agent for/against Voldemort? If Snape is good (and I hope he is), he killed Dumbledore on orders from Dumbledore, and is about to leave the safety of the school forever. He is about to throw himself to the lions with no place to retreat to. Even McGonigall doesn't know that he and Dumbledore had planned this. So he has gone completely underground with the only way out to vanquishe Voldemort. He will have to work alone and at great personal risk. The other death eaters will probalby still not trust him, or at least be jealous of him, and he will constantly need to look over his shoulder. Not the path of a coward. And to make matters worse, Harry throws this insult at him. I would be angry, too.
Yes exactly, we can't come around the fact that for now Harry and Snape hate eachother because Snape just can't tell he works with Dumbledore to harry or else he would ruin his hiding. But once Snape tells Harry there will be alot of apoligising probably:D.

I believe Snape is "good" (maybe not the most fitting word when it comes to Snape, but close enough to get the point across). So him being "forced" to kill one of the very few people he ever trusted and cared for must be one of the hardest and most brave thing anyone can do. I believe Snape was furious, sad, horrifyed and crushed when he ran away, and Harry's "coward!" was the last straw.

I was reading HBP and in the chapter The Flight of the Prince, I started wondering, Why did Snape get so angry for being called a coward?

Was it because he had done something he didn't want to do or was it because of Harry's father?

I do not believe that Snape was reacting to being called a coward. Shortly before Harry said "Kill me like you killed him, you coward!", he had called Snape a coward, and Snape had simply returned the insult by implying that James was a coward, for ganging up on people. I think the reminder that he had killed Dumbeldore was what got to him, but he could hardly admit that. (Obviously, I think he did not want to kill Dumbledore but did so because Dumbledore asked him to).

Could he have mis-heard Harry and thought that he said 'I want to fight you!' ?
...Nah, probably not. I think he was just reminded of some things that other people had said to him over the years.

Could he have mis-heard Harry and thought that he said 'I want to fight you!' ?
...Nah, probably not. I think he was just reminded of some things that other people had said to him over the years.
Why would he respond with dont call me coward then?:D

Why would he respond with dont call me coward then?:D

Because if the whole idea was to make Voldemort think that Snape is tryuly one of the bad guys, he could hardly say so, it would defeat the purpose.

As the line is written,

"DON'T-" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them- "CALL ME COWARD!"


the dash seems to suggest a pause, as if Snape actually started to say something else and then caught himself. Since Harry had only said two things (kill me like you killed him, and you coward) coward was the other thing he could respond to.

It makes no sense (to me, anyway :D ) that he would respond so calmly to the first mention of his supposed cowardice, and go postal about the second.

Oh, I like this topic!

I think Snape's violent reaction was significant. Is Snape's boggart being called a coward? Is that his biggest fear?

I mean, yes okay he would be upset at being called a coward by Harry if Snape is really putting his own life at stake and doing all these things to save Harry in the end - we don't yet know, although that's my guess - but the severity of his reaction to those words made me wonder if Harry touched on a very frightening nerve for Severus.

This is why I wish we had a real "Severus Snape, character analysis" thread. It would cut down on whole threads for single questions.

It seems that his over the top rage is caused by Harry's implication that he killed Dumbledore in a cowardly manner.

I do like the idea that he changes track in mid-sentence, though. What else could he have been about to say?

I was reading HBP and in the chapter The Flight of the Prince, I started wondering, Why did Snape get so angry for being called a coward?

Was it because he had done something he didn't want to do or was it because of Harry's father?
Perhaps it's simply that nobody likes being called a coward. Them's fightin' words. :D

Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.

Yeah, I agree with that. He knows that Harry didn't know about the whole plan, but still, I think the remark got on his last nerve.

It seems that his over the top rage is caused by Harry's implication that he killed Dumbledore in a cowardly manner. I like this theory. Snape didn't battle Dumbledore in a one on one battle. He killed an unarmed man. Whether he is good, bad or obscure, the fact remains that Dumbledore was sick and unarmed. That could be enough for Snape to react as he did when Harry called him a coward. It was also what Snape always called James. And now James' son is calling him one.

Well, I suppose he THINKS he's brave.

As the line is written,

"DON'T-" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them- "CALL ME COWARD!"


the dash seems to suggest a pause, as if Snape actually started to say something else and then caught himself. Since Harry had only said two things (kill me like you killed him, and you coward) coward was the other thing he could respond to.

It makes no sense (to me, anyway :D ) that he would respond so calmly to the first mention of his supposed cowardice, and go postal about the second.

I like this theory. I do think that Snape was angry at Harry for calling him a coward after doing something so dificult but it seems like Snape was about to tell Harry something more when he restrianed himself.

Could it be that Snape had remembered an event that had accord with Harry's father, which is why he remarked about Harry's father

Eh, because this particular accusation ticks him off? We all have something that ticks us off better than anything else. How did he develop this tick? No idea. It could have been that all his life as a child he was feeling as a coward for not risking expulsion and hexing his father for good when he was abusing his mother.

Personally, I think the answer is simple.

Snape, who I believe to be on the side of good and loyal to Dumbledore, just had to kill the one man who treated him well. The one man who believed in him when no one else would. Dumbledore pleaded with him to do it.

When Harry called him a coward, Snape couldn't take it. He had just done the hardest thing he ever had to do. And his reward? Everyone thinks he is an evil murderer, he is outcast from normal society, and he will have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life.

Now if you think Snape is the bad guy here, then alot of this doesn't apply---but the first part of my distribe does. Good or bad, I believe killing Dumbledore was the hardest thing Snape ever forced himself to do.

It's also interesting in another way. "Cowardly" would be the exact opposite of "Brave" which is a Gryffindor defining quality. Snape, being the current head of Slytherins should be able to deflect this insult without much difficulty.

That statement seems to be something that should just bounce off a Slytherin, if you understand what I mean.

This, I think, would support the "He switched tack mid sentence" theory.

Either that or perhaps showing that Snape has changed sense he was eleven and is now a Gryffindor at heart.

~Blix

I suspect that at one time, Severus has either been, or felt himself to be a coward. Perhaps in not protecting his mother from his father. Perhaps in not saving someone (fill in name here). As a result, he is extremely sensitive to the accusation.

Especially since he (apparantly) is doing something incredibly risky, and walking up to Voldemort and lying to his face, trusting only in his Occlumency skills versus that of the Dark Lord's. It must have been incredibly difficult to return at the end of GoF--and Snape gets called a coward for it.

Along with the fact, as mentioned above, he has just been forced to kill Albus Dumbledore, take a murder upon his own conscience, for the sake of Draco, Harry, the Order fighting downstairs, and all of the hundreds of the students. Getting the Death Eaters out of the school as quickly and efficiently as possible was, after all, Dumbledore's blatantly obvious purpose.

Personally I like the switch mid sentence idea. I have yet to go re-read that quote to see where Harry called him a coward before he "blew up" about it. If Harry really did call him a coward twice, once initally, and then again and got a response the second time but not the first makes me think that Snape changed what he was initially going to say to "call me coward". I also think Snape is on the good side and I am currently in favor of the DIATSSISE theory so my whole "he didn't really kill Dumbledore" thing kinda skews my view on the coward comment.

The other quote:

"Incarc-" Harry roared but Snape deflected the spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm.

"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him, "Fight back you cowardly-"

"Coward did you call me Potter?" shouted Snape, "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"

So he reacts to this accusation of cowardice in a typically Snapely fashion, with sarcasm and a nasty dig. But the second time he does react more extremely than we've ever seen him and I'm inclined to agree that it was the "kill me like you killed him" comment that really got to him. And "his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them" - pain you notice - hasn't that to be because Harry has just reminded him that he has killed Dumbledore?

I believe Snape is loyal to Voldemort, so my theory is that Snape is the "coward" Voldemort refers to in the Graveyard in GoF. I know most people think Karkaroff was the "coward" and Snape, the "one who left Voldemort's service forever." But during HBP, we find out that Karkaroff was killed which was to be the punishment of the "one who left." So that leaves the "coward" who would "pay." The DE's seem to think Snape is cowardly. Bellatrix makes mention of this in Spinnner's End.

Also,Snape's nick name is "Snivelus" which sounds like a sniveling coward kind of name, so maybe he was called a coward a lot at school. Some childhood insults hurt the most, so I can understand his overreaction if this is the case.

I think he reacted the way he did becaause he had just killed his only friend for whatever reason because he had to and because of it he is now a " shoot on site" person.

I believe Snape is loyal to Voldemort, so my theory is that Snape is the "coward" Voldemort refers to in the Graveyard in GoF. I know most people think Karkaroff was the "coward" and Snape, the "one who left Voldemort's service forever." But during HBP, we find out that Karkaroff was killed which was to be the punishment of the "one who left." So that leaves the "coward" who would "pay." The DE's seem to think Snape is cowardly. Bellatrix makes mention of this in Spinnner's End.

Also,Snape's nick name is "Snivelus" which sounds like a sniveling coward kind of name, so maybe he was called a coward a lot at school. Some childhood insults hurt the most, so I can understand his overreaction if this is the case.

And the punishment meeted out to a coward would be.....what ....One hundred lines with Umbridge's special quill???
Couldn't killling a coward by considered "payment" for his cowardice?
And who's to say Voldemort still won't be killing the DE who he fears has left him forever.
Just cause he hasn't done it by the end of book six doesn't mean he won't have by the end of book 7. I don't recall a time lime being mentioned.
Besides we know Snape did return, did rejoin. Is his 2 hour tardiness really going to be interpreted as cowardice so heinous that he'll pay ....sometime in book seven?
Reading through that passage from GOF...no one is clearly identified. Frankly when you get to third person mentioned....the death eater who had already reentered Voldemort's service as was at Hogwarts most certainly could be identified as Snape and probably was by some readers until we got to Barty Crouch Jr.

I think it might have been a little bit becuase of James, but it also could be because of what Bellatrix said to him in the first chapter, about never going to Azkaban and never really serving their master, and basically it sounded like she was saying that he's a coward, and he was just acting borred cause he didn't want her to see that it bothered him.

He has a lot on his mind. A lot. He's been the third most powerful wizard in the series, the only one with an intellect up to the task of going between Dumbledore and Voldemort. I firmly believe he was on Dumbledore's side, but very afraid that he could become like Voldemort if he didn't keep himself in check.

Dumbledore was his only confidante and role model, and he had to basically set him aflame so that a new phoenix (Harry) could be born from the ashes. He has no other friends, no one else he can talk to, no safe place to go. No one on either side trusts him.

He is completely alone. And he did it all for Harry, with no way to tell if Harry would ever figure out all he needed to know to defeat Voldemort. In the meantime, there's no one anywhere near as powerful as Dumbledore to take over leadership of the Good Side. He weakened them, because he had no other choice. He gave up the only person in the world who trusted and understood and could guide him, and he did it on faith in Harry's abilities. It was probably the bravest thing he's ever done.

Well, I'm assuming a few things here, but this is my favorite theory at the moment. :D

And the punishment meeted out to a coward would be.....what ....One hundred lines with Umbridge's special quill???
Couldn't killling a coward by considered "payment" for his cowardice?
And who's to say Voldemort still won't be killing the DE who he fears has left him forever.
Just cause he hasn't done it by the end of book six doesn't mean he won't have by the end of book 7. I don't recall a time lime being mentioned.
Besides we know Snape did return, did rejoin. Is his 2 hour tardiness really going to be interpreted as cowardice so heinous that he'll pay ....sometime in book seven?
Reading through that passage from GOF...no one is clearly identified. Frankly when you get to third person mentioned....the death eater who had already reentered Voldemort's service as was at Hogwarts most certainly could be identified as Snape and probably was by some readers until we got to Barty Crouch Jr.

Of course killing a coward would be considered "payment", but so would the cruciatus curse. Snape did return only two hours late, and Voldemort did not have many followers left at this time, so he could be lenient.

Voldemort did kill Karkaroff in HBP. This makes me think he was "the one who left" and not the coward.

You are right. No one is clearly identified in the Graveyard scene. That's why it's ambiguous and can be debated! :D

Snape's reaction to being called a coward is over the top. He clearly tells Harry earlier that Harry should not wear his emotions on his sleeve, and then he explodes like this! Something very significant happened during this scene and we should be looking into it.

James and Sirius refer to Snape as a coward. Bellatrix seems to think he took the cowardly way out by staying at Hogwarts instead of going to Azkaban. And then the ambiguity of the graveyard scene makes me think Snape was called a coward by none other than Voldemort. That would be an excellent reason to be furious about being called a coward by Harry too!

well, I'm still in two minds about Snape's loyalties, but I think the "coward" reaction could be evidence of his loyalty to Dumbledore. My theory is that Snape hates being called a coward so much because he is risking his life 'infiltrating' the Death Eaters - but he can't tell anyone about it.

That's my rather simple idea :) But i'm still browsing the other posts to pick up some others.

You are right. No one is clearly identified in the Graveyard scene. That's why it's ambiguous and can be debated! :D

Snape also tells Bella in Spinner's End that Voldemort thought he had left forever. To me this suggests THAT was Snape, and now Voldemort has either changed his mind as a result of Snape's return and whatever stury he spun, or decided to wait on the killing of Snape.


Snape's reaction to being called a coward is over the top. He clearly tells Harry earlier that Harry should not wear his emotions on his sleeve, and then he explodes like this! Something very significant happened during this scene and we should be looking into it.

The over the top reaction occurs the second time Harry accuses Snape of cowardice in that scene. Horcrux4 (thanks!) kindly provided the first instance, earlier in the fight.

"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him, "Fight back you cowardly-"

"Coward did you call me Potter?" shouted Snape, "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"


Here we see a typical Snapely reaction to Harry-a nasty comment about James. Yet the second time, Snape is over the top? This is why I think it is not, despote Snape's words, primarily about the statement that he is a coward, but the other piece...'kill me like you killed him'.

I really love this line of questioning. :)

Being in the "Snape is good" camp, I read this quote slightly different:

"DON'T-" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them- "CALL ME COWARD!"

Yes, I too think the hyphen is significant and that it represents a pause in his delivery. But given the uncharacteristic emotion that Snape displays here, and the clear, explicit pain that the author points out, I read the pause as more a case of his words catching in his throat like being on the verge of tears.

If Snape is good, he just killed a very important man in his life. If Snape is good, he's still following out their plans and by running away from Hogwarts he's still trying to protect Harry... who insists on chasing after and threatening him, and calling him a coward.

Yes, those words could hurt for a wide variety of reasons buried in the Snape/James relationship, buried in the Snape/Harry relationship, and buried in the Snape/Dumbledore relationship. In any case, Harry's words are inappropriate and hurtful given what Snape has just done and what he has yet to do.

Here is my interpretation:
The first time Harry calls Snape a coward:


"Incarc-" Harry roared but Snape deflected the spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm.

"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him, "Fight back you cowardly-"

"Coward did you call me Potter?" shouted Snape, "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?" In this instance, Harry calls Snape a coward because Snape won’t fight him. Snape isn’t affected by this.

And then the second time

"DON'T-" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them- "CALL ME COWARD!"

I don’t have my book with me, but I believe that Harry had just said something like, “then kill me like you killed him” or something that referred to what Snape had just done to Dumbledore. This gets the huge reaction from Snape.

well, snape always acts in a weird way, like the first time he was called a coward-n reaction!
but the second time he went off it with him!
he didn't like being called a coward straight up, because the first time harry said he was cowardly. It's a slight difference to coward!

I don’t have my book with me, but I believe that Harry had just said something like, “then kill me like you killed him” or something that referred to what Snape had just done to Dumbledore. This gets the huge reaction from Snape.

:tu: Quite correct. Here's the passage:


Harry had dived for his wand; Snape shot a hex and it flew feet away into the darkness and out of sight.

"Kill me then," panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward-"


And I agree with you that this definitely references the killing of Dumbledore. Not only because that's the only killing Harry has any knowledge Snape ever did (what he may or may not have done as a Death Eater is not known to Harry any more than it is to us), but also because Harry finds himself in the same situation as Dumbledore on the Tower, facing Snape alone and unarmed.

I believe Snape is loyal to Voldemort, so my theory is that Snape is the "coward" Voldemort refers to in the Graveyard in GoF. I know most people think Karkaroff was the "coward" and Snape, the "one who left Voldemort's service forever." But during HBP, we find out that Karkaroff was killed which was to be the punishment of the "one who left." So that leaves the "coward" who would "pay." The DE's seem to think Snape is cowardly. Bellatrix makes mention of this in Spinnner's End.

Also,Snape's nick name is "Snivelus" which sounds like a sniveling coward kind of name, so maybe he was called a coward a lot at school. Some childhood insults hurt the most, so I can understand his overreaction if this is the case.

Snape may be a lot of things but he is not a coward! Whatever way you look at it he has been fooling either Voldemort or Dumbledore (I personally beleive he has been fooling Voldemort)
We have also seen him do other brave things - such as go to the Shrieking Shack in PoA when he knew Lupin hadn't taken his potion, and in the scene in question he has just killed Dumbledore. I think Draco has shown us that killing is not easy and requires a certain amount of courage - especially when faced with someone like Dumbledore.
To me the epitomy of cowardice is Wormtail - I could not imagine him behaving the way Snape did on the tower.

I like the theory that the hyphen indicates a change in direction in the sentence - It's as if Harry mentions what Snape has just done and Snape just yells "DON'T" - as in don't remind me of what I've just had to do and then goes on with the "Call me coward"

I believe Snape is "good" (maybe not the most fitting word when it comes to Snape, but close enough to get the point across). So him being "forced" to kill one of the very few people he ever trusted and cared for must be one of the hardest and most brave thing anyone can do. I believe Snape was furious, sad, horrifyed and crushed when he ran away, and Harry's "coward!" was the last straw.
I agree with you about Snape being "forced" to kill someone that he trusted and cared about and that his reaction to Harry calling him a coward being the last straw... I tend to think of Snape being on the side of good as well, but more of an anti-hero ;).

He has a lot on his mind. A lot. He's been the third most powerful wizard in the series, the only one with an intellect up to the task of going between Dumbledore and Voldemort.

Can we stick to canon!Snape? Sure, he's smart, he wasn't 'made liason' at all, nor was this because of any particular brilliance. It just happened because a young wizard betrayed, all unknowing, a hugely important secret to Voldemort, and was later in a position to (apparently) repent the same decision, making him a perfect spy for either side. Circumstance was behind this position, not selection, and it was due to opportunity, not brilliance.

Peter was a spy as well, you know.

Dumbledore was his only confidante and role model, and he had to basically set him aflame so that a new phoenix (Harry) could be born from the ashes.

Er, could you explain this?

He has no other friends, no one else he can talk to, no safe place to go. No one on either side trusts him.

He is completely alone. And he did it all for Harry, with no way to tell if Harry would ever figure out all he needed to know to defeat Voldemort.

I was under the impression that he did it for Draco, for his own life, to maintain his power in the DE and to potentially revenge DD and betray Voldemort. Do you have canon showing that the character's motivation was to do this for Harry?

Also, I'm sure he is perfectly safe wherever Voldemort is, and that his friends on thaot side- Narcissa, Bella, Draco, Lucius if he has escaped, and so on- will respect him for removing Dumbledore.

As for no one on either side trusting him, no one on the good side will. Voldemort, however, will understand that he has removed his greatest rival and, if Snape claims loyalty believably, trust him completely. I see this as the sole reason for having Snape kill Dumbledore- to put the character in such a position of trust with Voldemort.

In the meantime, there's no one anywhere near as powerful as Dumbledore to take over leadership of the Good Side. He weakened them, because he had no other choice. He gave up the only person in the world who trusted and understood and could guide him, and he did it on faith in Harry's abilities. It was probably the bravest thing he's ever done.

Well, I'm assuming a few things here, but this is my favorite theory at the moment. :D

Hmm. I agree that the killing was difficult, but for the reasons I stated above, his rage could be down to anger at harry not realizing what he did do- sacrificing Dumbledore to save Draco and Narcissa, maintain his power and put himself in a position to betray Voldemort.

Snape also tells Bella in Spinner's End that Voldemort thought he had left forever. To me this suggests THAT was Snape, and now Voldemort has either changed his mind as a result of Snape's return and whatever stury he spun, or decided to wait on the killing of Snape.


We'll just have to agree to disagree on this. There's no proof either way.

The over the top reaction occurs the second time Harry accuses Snape of cowardice in that scene. Horcrux4 (thanks!) kindly provided the first instance, earlier in the fight.

"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him, "Fight back you cowardly-"

"Coward did you call me Potter?" shouted Snape, "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"


Here we see a typical Snapely reaction to Harry-a nasty comment about James. Yet the second time, Snape is over the top? This is why I think it is not, despote Snape's words, primarily about the statement that he is a coward, but the other piece...'kill me like you killed him'.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on whether or not Snape was the coward from the graveyard scene. There's no proof either way.:shrug:

The second time Harry calls Snape a coward: could Snape's reaction be due to shock? I don't think he knew that Harry was on the tower. He didn't know anyone had seen him kill Dumbledore. (He took in the DE's and Dumbledore but there is no indication he saw the two brooms. There were quite a few people up there. The brooms were probably out of sight.) The pause indicates something shook him. Maybe he just realized he will no longer be trusted by the Order.

Well, I'm on the Snape is good team, so I...think Snape is good (No...really?:p ).

When I read this part, the comparison of Snape to a wounded dog seemed significant, and I really think that he's not only upset that Harry called him a coward after killing Dumbledore, but I think just after all the years of being a bad guy, turning into a good guy (changing your ways can be an extremley hard thing to do), then risking his life as a spy and probably having to do all sorts of bad things he'd rather not do as a spy for the Order, then having to kill the only person who trusted him...I just think after everything that happened to him and still being called a coward, he just snapped for a moment there after a long while of holding it in.

It's also interesting in another way. "Cowardly" would be the exact opposite of "Brave" which is a Gryffindor defining quality. Snape, being the current head of Slytherins should be able to deflect this insult without much difficulty.

That statement seems to be something that should just bounce off a Slytherin, if you understand what I mean.

This, I think, would support the "He switched tack mid sentence" theory.

Either that or perhaps showing that Snape has changed sense he was eleven and is now a Gryffindor at heart.


That's close to what my impressions are. In some sense Snape is the most Gryffindor of the Slytherins, he came back to Dumbledore before the downfall of Voldemort "at great personal risk" (at least telling Dumbledore that Voldermort was going after the Potters), again took great risks when going back to Voldemort at the end of GoF.

Whatever side he is (I believe that he is on the Order side), I can't think of him as a coward.

In the same vein Harry might be considered the most Slytherin of the Gryffindors: he was almost sent to Slytherin by the sorting hat. He has invented some lies to get himself out of embarrassing situations (in CoS when he and Ron are found by McGonagall where they should not have been) and Snape is mad at him whe he knows that he is lying (about the HBP book when he brings Ron's book instead). I can't remember exactly right now but there is at least another time where he delibrately lies. The big difference of course is that Snape practically admits in the first occlumency lesson that he has lied in front of Voldemort, and that only the ones who master occlumency can do this, while the weakest legilimens can tell whether Harry lies or not.

I think that his response is just human. he had just accomplished what everyone had thought impossible (killing dumbledore) and had a high self esteem. He was then called a coward by a 16 yr old boy that he hated, but snape could not injure/kill him. so he resorted to screaming "in rage"

The second time Harry calls Snape a coward: could Snape's reaction be due to shock? I don't think he knew that Harry was on the tower. He didn't know anyone had seen him kill Dumbledore. (He took in the DE's and Dumbledore but there is no indication he saw the two brooms. There were quite a few people up there. The brooms were probably out of sight.) The pause indicates something shook him. Maybe he just realized he will no longer be trusted by the Order.
Now that you mention it, I never realized that Snape probably wasn't aware that Harry witnessed Dumbledore's death until Harry says that. Hmmmmm.....


I think that his response is just human. he had just accomplished what everyone had thought impossible (killing dumbledore) and had a high self esteem. He was then called a coward by a 16 yr old boy that he hated, but snape could not injure/kill him. so he resorted to screaming "in rage"
:agree: Since I'm in the Snape-is-an-evil-dude camp, I think this quite likely.

The second time Harry calls Snape a coward: could Snape's reaction be due to shock? I don't think he knew that Harry was on the tower. He didn't know anyone had seen him kill Dumbledore. (He took in the DE's and Dumbledore but there is no indication he saw the two brooms. There were quite a few people up there. The brooms were probably out of sight.) The pause indicates something shook him. Maybe he just realized he will no longer be trusted by the Order.

Oh, very good point there. The only way Snape could have known that Harry was there was if:
A. Snape knew Harry was with Dumbledore and had his invisibility cloak
B. Snape, like Moody and Dumbledore, can see through invisibility cloaks.

I don't have the book with me, but I don't recall anything to indicate Snape might see Harry in the cloak. Very good point that when Harry says that Snape realized that Dumbledore's murder had a witness. A witness who may not know the full story - we'll find out the answer in Book Seven.

I'm going to pull the book out tonight and re-read this part. But yeah, that could have meant several things to Snape, such as he could no longer rely on help from the Order. A man without a country. And now he knows Harry will probably come after him at some point.

Good catch.

I have always found this part of the story confusing. I too don't understand why that word sent Snape over the edge. After all that had happened and between he and Harry, why would he care so much about the word coward. Murderer, I could see or traitor, but why coward?

I think it is because he is a coward and did kill a sick unarmed old man.

:tu: Quite correct. Here's the passage:


Harry had dived for his wand; Snape shot a hex and it flew feet away into the darkness and out of sight.

"Kill me then," panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward-"


And I agree with you that this definitely references the killing of Dumbledore. Not only because that's the only killing Harry has any knowledge Snape ever did (what he may or may not have done as a Death Eater is not known to Harry any more than it is to us), but also because Harry finds himself in the same situation as Dumbledore on the Tower, facing Snape alone and unarmed.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here! :clap: I'd not really taken it in before that Harry was alone and unarmed and totally at Snape's mercy when he said to kill him like he killed Dumbledore and called him coward. The cowardice he was accusing Snape of was killing an old sick and unarmed man. Not killing him bravely in a fight. I'm fairly sure Snape hates himself for doing it that way - whether he had to on Dumbledore's orders is always debatable. But the point remains that it's a coward's way to kill an old man and that fact really catches Snape on the raw.

Whatever side he is (I believe that he is on the Order side), I can't think of him as a coward.



I think I need to clarify something here. I, too, do not consider Snape a coward. But, and this is a big but, I think others (Bellatrix and other DE's, Harry, Voldemort, the Sirius & James) consider Snape to be a coward. Maybe that is why he reacts the way he does when Harry calls him a coward.

Sorry to repeat myself, but I believe Voldemort considered Snape the coward in the graveyard. Someone on another thread mentioned that Voldemort might have set up the whole Unbreakable Vow in that he wanted Snape (not Malfoy) to actually kill Dumbledore. The Unbreakable Vow would mean that Snape would have to do it in order to save himself. It would either prove to Voldemort that Snape was truly on Voldemort's side, or it would cause Snape untold pain to kill his mentor (This is the "pay" part of Voldemort's vow in the graveyard in which he says the coward would pay.) Either way, Voldemort wins.

Whether or not Dumbledore and Snape had a plan for Snape to kill Dumbledore, whether you believe Snape is good or evil, if Voldemort manipulated events in Spinner's End with the Unbreakable Vow, this explains Snape's actions in killing Dumbledore and the reason he is infuriated when Harry calls him coward.

Apart from the good/bad debate he also respons so openly hysteric to this because a) it's harry b) he has selfesteem issues and can't take critism from anyone.

My little-very lame theory about this is that Snape wasn't really mad at Harry for calling him a coward. He was actually feeling terrible for having killed DD (yeah!!! :clap:I believe he's good!),and when Harry remainded him of that, he couldn't keep hiding inside so much pain (and had to shout) but couldn't say anything about it either; and so he used that word to hide his real feelings. It looked like he was mad for Harring calling him a coward, but it actually was the fact that he had killed DD.

Anyway, I don't know if that makes too much sense, but it's a possibility.

My little-very lame theory about this is that Snape wasn't really mad at Harry for calling him a coward. He was actually feeling terrible for having killed DD (yeah!!! :clap:I believe he's good!),and when Harry remainded him of that, he couldn't keep hiding inside so much pain (and had to shout) but couldn't say anything about it either; and so he used that word to hide his real feelings. It looked like he was mad for Harring calling him a coward, but it actually was the fact that he had killed DD.


I agree with you 100%. Not a lame theory at all. The reason is that Harry actually called Snape cowardly earlier in the scene. Did Snape go postal? Nope, he made a typical mean and nasty remark about what would that make James, who liked to attack people four-to-one?

Snape only loses it the second time, when Harry, alone and having lost his wand just like Dumbledore, shouts 'Kill me like you killed him".

Oh, very good point there. The only way Snape could have known that Harry was there was if:
A. Snape knew Harry was with Dumbledore and had his invisibility cloak
B. Snape, like Moody and Dumbledore, can see through invisibility cloaks.


And

C. Snape, just like Draco, noticed the presence of teo broomsticks. Unlike Draco, he wasn't easily diverted, and knew exactly what they meant. Snape knew exactly that Harry was on that rooftop. That was part of the reason that he hastened the Death Eaters out of there.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on whether or not Snape was the coward from the graveyard scene. There's no proof either way.:shrug:


Well, I'd appreciate your suggestion of how Barty Crouch and LKarkaroff fit in any other way? Barty is the one who has already rejoined him (that much is obvious). Karkaraff is clearly the "coward", as we see, he is constantly nervous about the Dark Mark throughout the book, indeed he fled the moment that the Dark Mark burned. That leaves Snape to be "the one who has left me forever", indicating that he has switched sides to Dumbledore. That description certainly fits neither Barty Jr. nor Karkaroff.


I like the theory that the hyphen indicates a change in direction in the sentence - It's as if Harry mentions what Snape has just done and Snape just yells "DON'T" - as in don't remind me of what I've just had to do and then goes on with the "Call me coward"

As a writer, I suspect that the Hyphen just indicated a need for the author to interrupt to deliver some important information, to frame the next words to be delivered. I don't think that she could have delivered the phrase effectively without creating the image of an immensely pained Severus Snape first. And I don't believe that he remotely had a shadow of the restraint necessary to change what he was about to say. The accusation struck him, the words, the emotions swept through him (we know that Severus keeps his emotions very "compartmentalized", that's even the word Jo used to describe it), knocked down all of his interior walls, and exploded out of him in a fury.

Including everything, all of the fear and apprehension, that he had endured since returning to Voldemort two years before. For a Slytherin, what he went through was an incredible ordeal. And though Dumbledore might well have reminded him of his promise in the Forsest, still Severus Snape did his duty. However resentfully.

And Harry, the person that he was at least partially doing it all for(including killing Dumbledore)...calls him a coward.

That...might be a bit much to bear.

Maybe it's just me but I always had the impression that he had a sort of troubled past, like parent-wise. Maybe he was called that sometimes at home. Or maybe it was something to do with his childhood with James and Serious calling him that a lot.
I think the most likely thing however is the thing about him being forced to wear the mask of a coward in killing told by Dumbledore to kill Dumbledore and going to Voldy. I think that that is anything but cowardly. Perhaps that's the first extremely significant thing of bravery he has done in his mind of high standards. He is dying to tell someone about it and get some credit but he can't.

And

C. Snape, just like Draco, noticed the presence of teo broomsticks. Unlike Draco, he wasn't easily diverted, and knew exactly what they meant. Snape knew exactly that Harry was on that rooftop. That was part of the reason that he hastened the Death Eaters out of there.



Well, I'd appreciate your suggestion of how Barty Crouch and LKarkaroff fit in any other way? Barty is the one who has already rejoined him (that much is obvious). Karkaraff is clearly the "coward", as we see, he is constantly nervous about the Dark Mark throughout the book, indeed he fled the moment that the Dark Mark burned. That leaves Snape to be "the one who has left me forever", indicating that he has switched sides to Dumbledore. That description certainly fits neither Barty Jr. nor Karkaroff.



I don't think Snape did see the broomsticks. When Draco arrived it was just Dumbledore and Invisible Harry on the Tower. Draco saw the broomsticks. He makes a comment about them. When Snape arrives there are four death eaters, Draco, Dumbledore and Invisible Harry. It is very possible that the broomsticks were obscured by all the people. Snapes eyes sweep the scene. Harry does not note that he paused when he saw the broomsticks. Did Snape know that Dumbledore and Harry were out that night? The Order members were patroling the grounds of Hogwarts, yet Snape was in his Dungeon. Hermione and Ginny (I think) were watching him. Flitwick goes to the Dungeon to find Snape. This all appears to me as if Snape had no idea anything was wrong at Hogwarts.

As for Snape being the coward mentioned in the Graveyard scene, there were three DE's not accounted for. Snape, Barty Crouch Jr. and Karkaroff. We know Crouch, Jr. was the DE who reentered Voldemort's service. So Snape or Karkaroff are the DE's who are 1) the coward, or 2) the one who left Voldemort's service forever. The coward would pay and the one who left would die. Karkaroff fled after the dark mark appeared, meaning he is either the coward or the one who left. Karkaroff was killed in HBP, so I believe he was the one who left, leaving Snape as the coward. I know it could go either way, but the reason I believe Snape to be the coward is because many have considered Snape to be a coward: James & Sirius, Bellatrix in Spinner's End, and Harry. Snape also returns to Voldemort's service (at least Voldemort thinks so) and Snape is still alive. Snape does not go to Azkaban for Voldemort, he remains at Hogwarts. Did Voldemort consider this a cowardly act? As for the coward paying for his cowardice, see my above post.

All of us are looking for canon evidence to support our views. This makes sense to me, since I believe Snape is a bad guy. :)

I've always wondered if his reaction to being called a coward had something to do with his schooldays with the Marauders. Maybe Harry's father and his friends taunted Snape and called him a coward, so in HBP when Harry calls him a coward, it brings back bad memories.

As a writer, I suspect that the Hyphen just indicated a need for the author to interrupt to deliver some important information, to frame the next words to be delivered. I don't think that she could have delivered the phrase effectively without creating the image of an immensely pained Severus Snape first.
This is what I've always thought of that particular line and hyphen, but at the same time, thinking about it, the pause could indicate that Snape changed his tack partway throughhis sentence. It wouldn't be the first time Jo's hidden a red herring, after all. But personally I agree with you on this.
And Harry, the person that he was at least partially doing it all for(including killing Dumbledore)...calls him a coward.
Exactly; it's just stoking the fire. And as for Snape only reacting to the second time Harry calls hi coward, I agree with the people who said it's because he's being reminded of the fact that he was just forced to kill Dumbledore.

I think Snape is working on a plot of his own and is plannig to kill voldemort as well so he can take control of the wizarding world for himself. This would be increadably dangeruos and Snape resents the fact that he can't glout about what he's doing. I don't think Dumbledor would have planned his death or he would have told Harry more about himself before he died. I also don't see how the death of Dumbledor would help any of the people opposing Dumbledor, so why would he order Snape to kill him?

Snape had just murdered a defenseless old man in cold blood. It was essentially four against one on the tower. Snape might have had no choice, and he might have done it to save himself, but I think that he was left wondering if he were indeed, a coward, for choosing to do what was easy and not what was right. Harry's words happened to hit him where it hurt.

Snape had just murdered a defenseless old man in cold blood. It was essentially four against one on the tower. Snape might have had no choice, and he might have done it to save himself, but I think that he was left wondering if he were indeed, a coward, for choosing to do what was easy and not what was right. Harry's words happened to hit him where it hurt.

Good summary!

I think Snape reacted so bad to when Harry called him a coward because of how he was treated by Harry's father. James most likely always called Snape a coward, and after reading the 5th books, "Snape's Worst Memory" I wouldnt be suprised that Snape did react as badly as he did.

Because if the whole idea was to make Voldemort think that Snape is tryuly one of the bad guys, he could hardly say so, it would defeat the purpose.

As the line is written,

"DON'T-" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them- "CALL ME COWARD!"


the dash seems to suggest a pause, as if Snape actually started to say something else and then caught himself. Since Harry had only said two things (kill me like you killed him, and you coward) coward was the other thing he could respond to.

It makes no sense (to me, anyway :D ) that he would respond so calmly to the first mention of his supposed cowardice, and go postal about the second.

I like that idea, that Snape was going to say something else at first. But I think the biggest thing Snape is reacting to isn't the fact that he's called "coward", and it isn't even entirely the fact that he had just killed Dumbledore. I think what makes Snape so mad he loses control is the fact that Harry tells Snape to kill HIM. Even though Snape hates Harry, he's always tried to protect him. Dumbledore too. I think both men would give their lives to save Harry. So to have Harry yell, "Kill me then! Kill me like you killed him" was more than he could handle and pushed him over the edge.

I like that idea, that Snape was going to say something else at first. But I think the biggest thing Snape is reacting to isn't the fact that he's called "coward", and it isn't even entirely the fact that he had just killed Dumbledore. I think what makes Snape so mad he loses control is the fact that Harry tells Snape to kill HIM. Even though Snape hates Harry, he's always tried to protect him. Dumbledore too. I think both men would give their lives to save Harry. So to have Harry yell, "Kill me then! Kill me like you killed him" was more than he could handle and pushed him over the edge.

I really like this idea. Snape knows about the prophecy and that Harry is the only one who can kill Voldemort. If we accept the theory that Snape is good (which I believe whole-heartedly!), then Snape would risk anything for Harry so that Voldemort could be defeated. To have someone you're risking you're life for ask you to kill them seems like it undermines everything Snape has worked for.

Great idea!

I think that Snape just doesn't like being insulted.I mean the whole situation was chaos and he just snapped at being called a coward.

I don't think Snape did see the broomsticks.

All of us are looking for canon evidence to support our views. This makes sense to me, since I believe Snape is a bad guy. :)
I have always had the impression that Snape rarely misses anything. And there is the possibility, even likelihood, of Legilimency between Dumbledore and Snape in that moment on the rooftop as well. I believe that Snape, for one, knew precisely what Dumbledore's desperate pleas referred to.


Exactly; it's just stoking the fire. And as for Snape only reacting to the second time Harry calls him coward, I agree with the people who said it's because he's being reminded of the fact that he was just forced to kill Dumbledore.
And I find it fascinating that even though Snape is finally pushed beyond all bounds, all of his restraint is abosolutely gone, does he Avada Kedavra Harry? Does he even use an Unforgivable curse, Crucio? No.

The spell effects are quite different from Harry's previous experience with that particular spell. While certainly not pleasant, Snape did not resort to the torture of that horrible spell.

I'll also wonder if the spell that he did use was another of his own invention. Perhaps scribbled further into the HBP.

Originally posted by IgoRetla
I have always had the impression that Snape rarely misses anything. And there is the possibility, even likelihood, of Legilimency between Dumbledore and Snape in that moment on the rooftop as well. I believe that Snape, for one, knew precisely what Dumbledore's desperate pleas referred to.



Snape doesn't have x-ray vision (that we know of, anyway:)) Harry doesn't notice Snape noticing the brooms, but I suppose he could have. It just seems that only a few seconds passed from when Snape arrived on the tower until he killed Dumbledore. In that time his "eyes swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy," got a verbal message "Severus... Severus ...please..." from Dumbledore, pushed Draco out of the way (during Dumbledore's verbal message) and also got a silent message from Dumbledore? Snape only gazed for a moment at Dumbledore before he killed him. That's a lot of things happening in a short amount of time!

Also, we don't really know how Legilimency/Occlumency work. When Harry breaks through Snape's mind, it seems like scattered visions. When Snape breaks through Harry's mind, Harry also has fragments of memories. Snape tells Harry it is not mind reading, so I wonder how Dumbledore could have communicated his thoughts so clearly to Snape in such a short period of time?

Quinetin Crum Said: Yes, I too think the hyphen is significant and that it represents a pause in his delivery. But given the uncharacteristic emotion that Snape displays here, and the clear, explicit pain that the author points out, I read the pause as more a case of his words catching in his throat like being on the verge of tears.

I too thought that the hyphen was Snape trying to keep his emotion (ie. keep from crying) in check. As stated above I am a Snape is good person and I feel that knowing Dumbledore is dead and he was in some way responsible was very pain full for Snape (see DIATSSISE link below).

After reading both quotes and seeing the context of when Harry first called Snape cowardly and the second time he actually calls him a Coward. I think the difference is the "kill me like you killed him" line before it that triggered capslock Snape to come out again. (remember POA and the Shreiking Shack, this is not the first time Snape has blown a gasket.)

I think that Snape was wishing he could tell Harry everything and he knows he can't.

Also, we don't really know how Legilimency/Occlumency work. When Harry breaks through Snape's mind, it seems like scattered visions. When Snape breaks through Harry's mind, Harry also has fragments of memories. Snape tells Harry it is not mind reading, so I wonder how Dumbledore could have communicated his thoughts so clearly to Snape in such a short period of time?


This is somewhat speculative, but one important difference is that in this scene, unlike the scenes with Harry and Snape in Occlumency lessons and HBP, Dumbledore would be cooperating with Snape, so Snape would not be 'breaking in'. Dumbledore 'trusts Severus Snape completely', so if he had some desperate last minute information he needed to impart (like 'Harry is here, frozen! Get the Death Eaters out of here!!') that would be at the top of his mind.

It would be like the idea Harry got in Umbridge's office, when he tried desperately to get Snape to read his mind about Sirius in OotP. Snape did look at him, and seemed not to react (but then, he had to act in front of Umbridge). We actually don't know whether this worked or not to this day...because in the end Harry chose to also tell Snape aloud, using the cryptic statement "he's got Padfoot where it's at!"

This is somewhat speculative, but one important difference is that in this scene, unlike the scenes with Harry and Snape in Occlumency lessons and HBP, Dumbledore would be cooperating with Snape, so Snape would not be 'breaking in'. Dumbledore 'trusts Severus Snape completely', so if he had some desperate last minute information he needed to impart (like 'Harry is here, frozen! Get the Death Eaters out of here!!') that would be at the top of his mind.

It would be like the idea Harry got in Umbridge's office, when he tried desperately to get Snape to read his mind about Sirius in OotP. Snape did look at him, and seemed not to react (but then, he had to act in front of Umbridge). We actually don't know whether this worked or not to this day...because in the end Harry chose to also tell Snape aloud, using the cryptic statement "he's got Padfoot where it's at!"

We still have the fact that Snape himself says that legimelency is not mind reading. Snape doesn’t use the qualification that in certain instances it can be used as such. Furthermore Snape explicitly states that thoughts are not etched to the skull, to be read at will. To recreate legimilency to something that does allow direct mind reading is not supported by canon.

And the example you just cited really proves that there is no such thing as sending messages from the top of your mind. Dumbledore tells us that Snape reacted to the cryptic message Harry sent, not to the not-cryptic pictures of his mind. So we do know that when Harry tried to send a message with his mind it didn’t work. It’s hard to believe that it did work in the Dumbledore-Snape situation when the one example we have, the Harry-Snape situation, it didn’t work.

Snape didn't want to kill Dumbledore. Do you ever consider that when Snape and Dumbledore were arguing in the Forbidden Forest, it might've been about this...plan? Dumbledore showed Harry everything he needed to know and Dumbledore knew that Draco Malfoy would end up bringing Death Eater's into the castle and killing Dumbledore. Maybe his and Snape's "heated argument" was about what to do to Harry if Dumbledore in fact died. Maybe Dumbledore knew that Snape had to kill him, in order for this 'plan' to work. Maybe Snape couldn't utter a word to anybody about this plan, and was, like Harry, following Dumbedore's orders?

So you can probably imagine (or maybe you can't) what Snape felt when Harry called him a coward.

Make sense?

Snape didn't want to kill Dumbledore. Do you ever consider that when Snape and Dumbledore were arguing in the Forbidden Forest, it might've been about this...plan? Dumbledore showed Harry everything he needed to know and Dumbledore knew that Draco Malfoy would end up bringing Death Eater's into the castle and killing Dumbledore. Maybe his and Snape's "heated argument" was about what to do to Harry if Dumbledore in fact died. Maybe Dumbledore knew that Snape had to kill him, in order for this 'plan' to work. Maybe Snape couldn't utter a word to anybody about this plan, and was, like Harry, following Dumbedore's orders?

So you can probably imagine (or maybe you can't) what Snape felt when Harry called him a coward.

Make sense?

I consider this all the time. There really isn't another topic they might have been arguing about that would have much signifigance in the overall story. If there's no signifigance to the story...why tells us about an argument at all. Red herrings are effective only if used "sparingly"

Originally posted by Zgirnius
It would be like the idea Harry got in Umbridge's office, when he tried desperately to get Snape to read his mind about Sirius in OotP. Snape did look at him, and seemed not to react (but then, he had to act in front of Umbridge). We actually don't know whether this worked or not to this day...because in the end Harry chose to also tell Snape aloud, using the cryptic statement "he's got Padfoot where it's at!"

Yes, but since once again JKR has left it ambiguous, I tend to agree with this idea:

Originally posted by Staniw
We still have the fact that Snape himself says that legimelency is not mind reading. Snape doesn’t use the qualification that in certain instances it can be used as such. Furthermore Snape explicitly states that thoughts are not etched to the skull, to be read at will. To recreate legimilency to something that does allow direct mind reading is not supported by canon.

And the example you just cited really proves that there is no such thing as sending messages from the top of your mind. Dumbledore tells us that Snape reacted to the cryptic message Harry sent, not to the not-cryptic pictures of his mind. So we do know that when Harry tried to send a message with his mind it didn’t work. It’s hard to believe that it did work in the Dumbledore-Snape situation when the one example we have, the Harry-Snape situation, it didn’t work.

I consider this all the time. There really isn't another topic they might have been arguing about that would have much signifigance in the overall story. If there's no signifigance to the story...why tells us about an argument at all. Red herrings are effective only if used "sparingly"
I disagree that there isn't any other topic that would have as much significance to the story as the theory that Snape and Dumbledore were arguing over Dumbledore demanding that Snape kill him. Now, you could be right, but I really don't like the idea that Dumbledore would force someone to become a murderer. This is a story about choices.

If the argument in the forest was simply Dumbledore trying to get Snape to stop Draco in his attempts to murder him, then that would be significant. It would show Dumbledore's concern for the innocent students that Draco may injure or kill in his inept attempts to murder him. It would also show Snape's frustration at being unable to influence Draco in any way. Draco has shut Snape out of his "task". He won't tell him what he is up to. And Snape is very frustrated by that. He may even have thought that when he took the Unbreakable Vow, that he would be able to influence Draco enough so that it would never come down to Dumbledore being murdered. The purpose of the forest scene is to show us how hard it is for Snape to carry on as a double agent.

So when Harry calls Snape a coward, Snape's frustrations overflow. Nothing has gone as he hoped it would. He was tricked into taking the Unbreakable Vow. He was unable to influence or stop Draco. He had no idea that Death Eaters were going to be in the castle that night. He was forced to carry out the vow and kill someone who trusted him. He was cornered, like an animal, and had to act. Sure, when Harry called him a coward, it was the last thing he wanted to hear. The whole year had been a disaster for him, and now his future looked really bad.

I disagree that there isn't any other topic that would have as much significance to the story as the theory that Snape and Dumbledore were arguing over Dumbledore demanding that Snape kill him. Now, you could be right, but I really don't like the idea that Dumbledore would force someone to become a murderer. This is a story about choices.


I 100% agree with this statement but it's been my feeling that sometimes the thought is there was a good choice to make on that tower when in fact, all the choices were lousy once that Unbreakable Vow kicked in. And it had kicked in. Draco had lowered his wand.
So the argument...and I think Hagrid reported enough of it to give a little credience to this thought....Dumbledore is basically saying
"you took that vow...can't get out of it...if comes down to either Draco or myself...you choose Draco."
I've never thought Dumbledore set up his own murder...I don't think he would ask Snape to do that.
But I do think DD would sacrifice himself for either one of his students or one of his teachers.
Because Snape was a dead man if he didn't fulfull that Vow.
My basic point is that the argument in forest is related to how events played out later on the tower. Dumbledore knew what might have to happen and so did Snape..hence the reason he sounded "overworked" when Hagrid heard them.
And then Harry started throwing the coward word around immediately after Snape has to make this misrable choice.
Yeh...I can see why Snape might loose it at that point.

Dumbledore showed Harry everything he needed to know and Dumbledore knew that Draco Malfoy would end up bringing Death Eater's into the castle and killing Dumbledore.
I doubt that Dumbledore would ever knowingly allow DEs into Hogwarts. That would be putting the students into danger, something Dumbledore would never allow. So if he ever found out that was Draco's plan, Dumbledore would have put a stop to it immediately.

I doubt that Dumbledore would ever knowingly allow DEs into Hogwarts. That would be putting the students into danger, something Dumbledore would never allow. So if he ever found out that was Draco's plan, Dumbledore would have put a stop to it immediately.

that's true, dd would never let anything harm the students in his care, as all that he cared about was the safety of the pupils.

Theres a few possible reasons.

For those believing he killed Dumbledore under Dumbledore's on orders. Than it is clearly obvious why he was so angry for being called a coward after it.

he killed the most powerful wizard in the world,so he is obviously going to be royally annoyed by being called a coward!

He had just done the unthinkable thing, so to him he would be the bravest man ever.

JKR obviously used great care in writing the 'don't call me coward' paragraph. To me, the most interesting, and the most telling, word she chose to use is 'pain.' Snape has just killed DD. He is not gloating, he is not horrified at what he's done, he's not fearful because he's just made himself the #1 target of the Order. He's in terrible, terrible pain, his face 'demented, inhuman' with the depth of that pain. That says to me that in killing DD, Snape did what he had to do, but that it was perhaps the most painful moment of his life. Then, Harry screams at him that he's a coward for having done it. I'd go postal, too!

Snape has just killed DD. He is not gloating, he is not horrified at what he's done, he's not fearful because he's just made himself the #1 target of the Order. He's in terrible, terrible pain, his face 'demented, inhuman' with the depth of that pain. That says to me that in killing DD, Snape did what he had to do, but that it was perhaps the most painful moment of his life. Then, Harry screams at him that he's a coward for having done it.

I agree. After reading that passage where JKR compared Snape to Fang (?) howling in pain, I was convinced of Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore. That pain he felt was tremendous and that showed up on his face. He killed the one man who trusted him completely and to do that (unwillingly) and be called a coward would most certainly cause him to react the way he did.

he didn't like the fact that he had just killed the man he had spent the last so many years of his life with and been called a coward by a 16 year old boy!

that's true, dd would never let anything harm the students in his care, as all that he cared about was the safety of the pupils.

Exactly which tells me DD would put Draco's safely above his own and in a situation where it's either DD, Draco or a teacher DD has worked with for over fifteen years...DD would make the ulitimate sacrifice.
And I think that's what happened on the tower.
Snape's reaction is one of man who had no good options.

My answer is very simple and has probably been said at least 300 times in this thread. By the way, I am comlpetely assuming Snape is good in this statement.

He was just forced to kill Dumbledore, which he did not want to do, is about to have to go back to Voldemort and pretend to be on Voldemort's side, and now the entire wizarding world think he's evil when he's not. Dumbledore was the only one who really completely trusted him and Snape just had to kill him. Then Harry called him a coward for it?

This was the bravest,most noble, and hardest thing Snape has ever had to do. Harry (and probably most of the wizarding world) now think he's a coward for it.

I'd be angry too.

It seemed a bit odd, to me, that he'd be blowing up at the accusation that he was a coward, precisely after killing a man who supported him for years. Consider, also, that this was coming from a child -- granted, Harry is no ordinary kid and they have a history -- but it screamed to me volumes about some old and extremely raw spot centered around that word. So what? So he called you a coward! You just killed a man -- but this word from Harry makes a grown man, one who is flying from the scene of the crime, stop dead in his tracks and explode in a rage.

The man needs some serious therapy for a number of things, it would seem, and I bet we learn all about it in book 7.

It seemed a bit odd, to me, that he'd be blowing up at the accusation that he was a coward, precisely after killing a man who supported him for years. Consider, also, that this was coming from a child -- granted, Harry is no ordinary kid and they have a history -- but it screamed to me volumes about some old and extremely raw spot centered around that word. So what? So he called you a coward! You just killed a man -- but this word from Harry makes a grown man, one who is flying from the scene of the crime, stop dead in his tracks and explode in a rage.

The man needs some serious therapy for a number of things, it would seem, and I bet we learn all about it in book 7.I agree, however one point I find odd, is that when Harry says "kill me like you killed him" or whatever, he was just previously about James and Lily. So to what did Snape react to? To being called a coward for killing Dumbledore? Or being called a coward for 'killing' James?

Good points, Kimspensive and LoveLupin. I think Snape is still harboring raw feelings he felt many years ago and they just forced him to reach the boiling point. I really don't think he wanted to kill Dumbledore and this is something he will have to live with the rest of his life. As Hermy _007 states, Snape had just killed the one man who has trusted him for 15 years.

I agree, however one point I find odd, is that when Harry says "kill me like you killed him" or whatever, he was just previously about James and Lily. So to what did Snape react to? To being called a coward for killing Dumbledore? Or being called a coward for 'killing' James?

It could be either. I could see him reacting to both of them.

JKR obviously used great care in writing the 'don't call me coward' paragraph. To me, the most interesting, and the most telling, word she chose to use is 'pain.' Snape has just killed DD. He is not gloating, he is not horrified at what he's done, he's not fearful because he's just made himself the #1 target of the Order. He's in terrible, terrible pain, his face 'demented, inhuman' with the depth of that pain. That says to me that in killing DD, Snape did what he had to do, but that it was perhaps the most painful moment of his life. Then, Harry screams at him that he's a coward for having done it. I'd go postal, too!

I agree. This is a good topic, and I think that that passage is really important too. It shows that there is more going on with Snape than him being just a hateful murderer. The act he had just committed was very fresh and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life. And then to have the replica of his arch enemy James call him a coward pushed him over the edge. No one else has the ability to pull Snape out of his inscrutable and unreadable demeanor faster than Harry. Harry doesn't even fully understand why, because he believes Snape is pure evil. Snape is a lot of things, but he is not a coward. That was probably the one insult that could hurt him the most at that time, especially if hurled by Harry.

The act he had just committed was very fresh and he will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life. And then to have the replica of his arch enemy James call him a coward pushed him over the edge. The interesting thing about this observation is that Snape had always called James a coward. But Snape's act of killing a defenseless and ill man far exceeds any act of cowardice James may have performed. Snape now knows that he has stooped lower and been more reprehensible than James ever was.

What about the things Harry saw in the fifth book, when he broke into Snape's mind? I always kind of connected those things...
Here's the quote:
(...) and suddenly Harry's mind was teeming with memories that were not his: a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner ... a greasy-haired teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at the cieling, shooting down flies, a girl was laughing as a scrawny boy was trying to mount a bucking broomstick -

(..)He was sure he had just broken into Snape's memories, that he had just just seen scenes from Snape's childhood. It was unnerving to think that the little boy he who had been crying as he watched his parents shouting was actually staring at him with such loathing in his eyes.
from the American Hardback version of OotP, page 522

My point is, that Snape had a pretty bad childhood, we don't exactly get the impression he was especially popular or anything... Maybe he also was influenced by that as to why he joined the Death-Eaters, so that he wouldn't feel like a coward. If he was abused (mentally/verbally/physically) in his childhood by his father, he probably also felt a lot like a coward when he looked back at it and was disgusted by it.

Anyway, I thought it might have influenced his reaction, but I do think that the other theory is very/much more probable...

After reading some of these well thought out comments, I must agree that Snape is more likely reacting to the line "Kill me like you killed him," instead of the word "coward." And the fact that his face contorted in pain, shows us just how hard it was for him to kill the only person in the world who trusted and believed in him. It was probably the hardest thing he ever had to do.

I think there is much more about Severus that we know that makes him a hero instead of a coward, and Severus knows it. I believe Severus is on Dumbledore's side (please read, no the "good" side or even the order, he is on DUmbledore's side) and he has being doing many things to save Harry.

We still have the fact that Snape himself says that legimelency is not mind reading. Snape doesn’t use the qualification that in certain instances it can be used as such. Furthermore Snape explicitly states that thoughts are not etched to the skull, to be read at will. To recreate legimilency to something that does allow direct mind reading is not supported by canon.


Lots of images streamed through Harry's mind in the bad moments of his Occlumency lessons. All that Dumbledore had to do was pass the image of Harry standing on the Tower, the image of himself dying in a flash of green light, the image of the Death Eaters rushing out of the castle. A picture is worth a thousand words. Hardly seems difficult to me at all, certainly not beyond the definitions of Legilimency that we know, or the resourcefulness and capability of Albus Dumbledore.

I keep being reminded of the argument with Dumbledore -- I am certain that the touchiness about being called a coward and this argument are very closely connected, and there are so many theories out there as to why. Perhaps both of them accused him of running away -- that perhaps Dumbledore was told by Snape that he wanted to get out of whatever working relationship he had with the Order... but it's completely speculative. How, unless Snape discloses it to Harry, would we ever know?

Howm unless Snape discloses it to Harry, would we ever know?

I don't think we'll ever know for sure. Though what Book 7 tells us about Snape's loyalties will help us to decide, I would imagine.

I believe that Snape reacted in that way because he knew he had just done the least cowardly thing a person in his position could do.

Another idea that I've been kicking around is that Harry's utterance of "coward" was echoing the feeling Snape himself had. He knows he did the right thing, but that is not going to stop him from feeling like he could have saved Dumbledore.

well if you support thhe snape is good theory then i believe it was because snape was forced was forced to do something he did not want to do.if you think snape is evil then it could just as well have been because he thought something ill about james or sirius,and considered them a coward and thought that harry should not call him out of anybody,a coward.

i think the reason why he got bad was not because he hated that he had just killed DD but because he had faced so much abuse and double-agent things and finally announcing a side was a brave thing to do. Plus, harry says coward twice - and snape reacts the first time by saying that james would never have attacked unless it was four on one (something like that), he resented that harry called him a coward for having stood up to others or playing a sneaky role greatly. Harry calling him a coward was perfectly logical though, just as much as snapes reaction.

I think there are two reasons that being called a coward caused such a violent reaction from Snape - either he's just done something very cowardly (ie killed Dumbledore to save his own life as per the Unbreakable Vow), and he knows it, or he's just done something very brave (could Dumbledore have made him make the same promise as Harry - obey my orders, whatever they are?), and he knows that it looks to everyone else like cowardice. Either way, I think if he hadn't just done something he knows is wrong, I don't think he would have reacted in such a way.

I think its because he is fed up of everyone wondering which side he's really on, especially those who are aware of his double role. The fact that Harry can call him coward without knowing the details of his mission irks him to hell and back. I mean it would irk everyone...I guess Snape's reaction to it is not what we saw from Sirius in OotP when Snape called him coward.

Snape had just sent DD flying over the edge of the tower, while shouting AK. This will turn the entire magical world (at least the good part) against him, and no matter how you look at it- this is a brave thing to do. I am one of those who doesn’t believe that Snape actually killed DD, but acted on DD orders*. So of cause Snape will have a strong reaction on being called a coward- the last thing you can call him- no matter what you might think of him.

*Se link in signature

some people just don't like to be called names, i suppose.

Snape seems like the type that got called a coward when he was a student at Hogwarts alot. That doesn't mean he is one or ever was one, but he seems like a loner or at least not in with the in crowd. I think one of the big problems between Harry and Snape has always been when Snape looks at Harry he is reminded of James. So when Harry called him a coward that is what set off the reaction.

I am in the Snape is good camp and since GOF he has been a double agent between the two most powerful wizards alive. During this time he has been in the process of keeping Harry alive and Harry has now called him a coward. Snape can't stand Harry but he is still working for his side and about to go to live with the Voldemort on a constant basis. It would be one thing to hide what you are doing in communications or on the occational visit. It would seem to me that working against Voldemort while being around him is not the action of a coward and he resents being called one.

Snape is now alone because Dumbledore is dead and he had to kill him to continue supporting Harry. What a terrible possition to have been put in. He hates Harry even more for putting him in this possition. He must be living in a world of internal conflict.

Snape seems like the type that got called a coward when he was a student at Hogwarts alot. That doesn't mean he is one or ever was one, but he seems like a loner or at least not in with the in crowd. I think one of the big problems between Harry and Snape has always been when Snape looks at Harry he is reminded of James. So when Harry called him a coward that is what set off the reaction.

Then why did Snape not flip out the first time Harry called him a coward? He did so a page or so earlier, and Snape responded with a fine sarcastic comeback, paraphrased "So what would you call your father, who always attacked 4 to 1?" I think what really got under Snape's skin wasn't the insult, but the statement 'Kill me like you killed him' - he was upset y having had to kill Dumbledore.

I do not think he liked being called a coward. He think he has shown how brave he was. He had gone face to face with Voldemort everyday and has gotten out alive and only he kniws what else he has had to do to stay on Voldemorts good side and now Harry calls him a coward. Yes he was mad. He also just had to kill Dumbledore. He had to get Draco out safe.He just proved how brave he was and then that. I would be mad too!

On first glance, I assumed that he didn't like being called a coward because James and Sirius used to call him that when they were at school together. The fact that it was Harry, the son of his arch enemy, calling him that just intensified his anger.

However as zgirnius pointed out, Harry had called Snape a coward earlier and didn't react as strongly, so I think the anger was more about having to kill Dumbledore than anything else.

I believe that Snape's reaction to being called a coward is because what he had to do was anything but cowardly. I agree with the theory that Snape is fighting against evil and Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him. Therefore, Snape just did a very brave thing - he killed the only man who had really ever believed and trusted in him. If that's not giving something up for the greater good than I don't know what is. After doing this and then being called a coward not once but twice... I think I would have a similar reaction too. The worst part is no one knows what a brave thing Snape did except him and Dumbledore and no one will probably know until the end of DH.

Another reason for Snapes reaction - Harry is the one calling him a coward. Snape might repeatedly attempt to save Harry's life but that does not mean that he likes Harry in anyway. Having someone that you don't like call you a coward could upset anyone. I'm sure if Snape/Draco told Harry he was a coward Harry would be none to happy about that.

However, if Snape really is on the bad side then I guess that my reasoning for Snape's reaction to being called a coward would be completely thrown out the window!! :)

i think snape got really angry b/c he is not, in fact, a coward. even though we don't know what side he's on, let's face it--playing double agent for voldemort and dumbledore, the 2 most powerful wizards alive, takes some guts. snape has a sizable ego, and i think he didn't like the fact that his daring deeds weren't appreciated.

I was reading HBP and in the chapter The Flight of the Prince, I started wondering, Why did Snape get so angry for being called a coward?

Was it because he had done something he didn't want to do or was it because of Harry's father?

yeah, i didnt quite get that either. lk...normally, being called a "coward" isnt a big insult at all. it just sort of rolls off of your shoulder if anythng. i took it strange that Snape flipped out and got THAT angry at being called a coward. 'twas weird. but, i guess it depends on who did the coward calling. maybe it's the fact that James' son had called him a coward, something his father had prolly done countless times.

ooh, i love this discussion =]

one of the contributing factors i think is that a coward is something that he had been called alot of his life, both growing up and as an adult. as an adult, i'm sure he got it quite a bit from various de's and such regarding his loyalty, etc. and vice versa, with dumbledore supporters. also, i'm sure he got called that alot as a kid. probably from james and co.

BlackFenix, you have asked some very good questions.
Why did Snape get so angry at being called a Coward? I think it was for both of the reasons you mentioned. I truly believe he had just done something he didn't want to do. Dumbledore was the ONLY Wizard to trust him without a second's hesitation. Even when Harry and others asked legitimate questions as to his reason, Albus NEVER wavered. He NEVER himmed or hawed or said "but.....". He uncatagorically said he TRUSTED Severus Snape. Now Albus Dumbledore, the only Wizard who treated Severus Snape as an equal, didn't look at him as if he was diseased, didn't redicule him or have that "Once a Death Eater, ALWAYS a Death Eater" opinions many other people had. Albus is gone, through Snape's hands. Snape will now be the most hunted Wizard ever. People will be on a vigilanti mission. He won't be able to trust anyone. He won't be welcomed anywhere. Even if his actions were supported by Dumbledore and he did it for the greater good, he will still be regarded as a Killer. Snape will once again be ostricized with NO ONE to defend him. His World as he knows it is over.
I think it may have something to do with James Potter. He MAY have used "what are you, Snivellus, a COWARD". James may have used it to try to get Severus into trouble. How much it plays into things, I don't know. But whatever his reason, there is some deep seeded memory here.

I agree with Sarapsys

Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.

I believe he is good and did something which will revile him in many people's eyes. He has done the bravest thing which does put him in a terrible no win situation.

When I read that scene (two times) through my first reading of HBP, the first thing that popped into my head about the "Coward" line, was that something that Snape had to do in his past, perhaps during his school days, was very "brave" in a sense. Maybe Sirius and James made him do something he absolutely didn't want to do, and I would think the word "coward" would have been thrown in his direction a few times.

As for what this thing is, I have no idea. Maybe it was in one of the other memories Snape placed inside the pensieve.

Of course, killing the headmaster of hogwarts, an act that in it's own requires a great deal of bravery (especially since he may have gone against Voldemort by filling out Draco's task), and being called a "coward" in this situation would of course cause Snape to react the way he did. I think this would make it more of a red herring.

I agree with most here, that is was probably a name he was called when he was younger... and even perhaps in some kind of traumatic event we are yet to find out about. I do hope so.

("And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? -snip-"Kill me like you killed him, you coward-" HBP, U.S. version page 604) As the discussion was on James before Harry called Snape a coward, I believe Snape's reaction was to his feelings over James death. No matter where the mans loyalties lie, the guilt of causing someone you owe a debt to has to be strong.Snapes reaction to Sirius in OOP was different as he was not being accused of killing, nor was James Potter's name mentioned.Also in Spinner's End("But not by you!" said Bellatrix furiously."No, you were once again absent while the rest of us ran dangers,were you not,Snape?" HBP U.S. version page 29) Bella hinted at Snape being a coward and his reaction was calmer.While I hope Snape had remorse for killing Dumbledore, his behavior here was more over James , possibly over the inventions claimed to be stolen.

How many of us would have the nerve to put ourselves in the position of double agent for/against Voldemort? If Snape is good (and I hope he is), he killed Dumbledore on orders from Dumbledore, and is about to leave the safety of the school forever. He is about to throw himself to the lions with no place to retreat to. Even McGonigall doesn't know that he and Dumbledore had planned this. So he has gone completely underground with the only way out to vanquishe Voldemort. He will have to work alone and at great personal risk. The other death eaters will probalby still not trust him, or at least be jealous of him, and he will constantly need to look over his shoulder. Not the path of a coward. And to make matters worse, Harry throws this insult at him. I would be angry, too.

:agree:

Wouldn't you be angry if the one student you think a real git, treated special, whose father bullied and tormented him all through school, called you a coward? Coward is a very stong word to call someone, especially since I'm sure Snape was on edge and had a million things racing through his mind, and reacted from frustration and anger.
And as others said, there are some Death Eaters who do not trust him. He mentioned it to Bella in Spinners End that he knew the Death Eaters were whispering tales of his betrayels to the Dark Lord. So Snape is probably high strung, though we know he'll act cool and calm on the outside.

I don't think Snape was angery because Harry called him a "Coward," but he was anger at Harry foe calling him a killer.

It is most likely that Snape may have been good, and as DD said "out of great personal risk, he joined our side before the fall of LV." so he was NOT a coward...this is of course if Snape is good.

I was reading HBP and in the chapter The Flight of the Prince, I started wondering, Why did Snape get so angry for being called a coward?

Was it because he had done something he didn't want to do or was it because of Harry's father?

I think Snape fears that he is a coward. We know he is not and he is working so hard not to appear to be one but if we saw his boggart it would probably show him cowering in fear or something like that.

I thought this one was obvious. It's not about being called a coward. The first time Harry does it, saying "Fight me, you cowardly...", Snape becomes angry and shouts, but does not lose his composure or focus.

He doesn't lose control until Harry says "Kill me like you killed him". That's the reason Snape became deranged with anger, not the word coward, which had already been used. He was unable to bear the implication that he should kill Harry like he killed Dumbledore- in a cowardly manner, as in murdering a defenseless old man.

I thought this one was obvious. It's not about being called a coward. The first time Harry does it, saying "Fight me, you cowardly...", Snape becomes angry and shouts, but does not lose his composure or focus.

He doesn't lose control until Harry says "Kill me like you killed him". That's the reason Snape became deranged with anger, not the word coward, which had already been used. He was unable to bear the implication that he should kill Harry like he killed Dumbledore- in a cowardly manner, as in murdering a defenseless old man.

That's a good point. Dumbledore was not only defenseless, but he was weakened by whatever that potion in the cave was.

I would think that there was some feeling of the irony of the situation prompting Snape's reaction if you consider that he thought James was a coward and I believe he also called Harry something similar to that as well and then when Harry calls him a coward for doing the bravest act in his life (killing the one person who trusts him) I would be frustrated with the fact that I cant prove Harry (who I, being Snape, hate).

I suspect that at one time, Severus has either been, or felt himself to be a coward. Perhaps in not protecting his mother from his father. Perhaps in not saving someone (fill in name here). As a result, he is extremely sensitive to the accusation.

Especially since he (apparantly) is doing something incredibly risky, and walking up to Voldemort and lying to his face, trusting only in his Occlumency skills versus that of the Dark Lord's. It must have been incredibly difficult to return at the end of GoF--and Snape gets called a coward for it.

Along with the fact, as mentioned above, he has just been forced to kill Albus Dumbledore, take a murder upon his own conscience....

...or whichever side he is on, what he is doing is incredibly risky.

I agree with those who see the cowardice accusation as hitting Snape in a long-term sore spot. Remember how he needled Sirius? Remember how every single time, the needling consisted of accusations of cowardice?

That, in my opinion, is the action of someone who is projecting -- attributing to someone else the faults that he dislikes most in himself. And in his secret heart, Snape may have envied Sirius' relatively safe position in comparison with his own.

Even his assuming the double agent role, for whichever side, can be seen --among other things -- as a conscious attempt to rid himself of doubts about his own courage.

All this leaves open the question -- why would it be so important to Snape to prove his courage to himself?

Snape is so complex.

Upon reading that line, I just felt that Snape's reaction showed a few things.

That he has feelings and Harry hit a nerve. Snape has reacted this way when he lost the Order of Merlin and also in the pensieve memory with the Marauders. Probably other examples but these 2 come immediately to mind. He is usually restrained and does not always lose his cool.

Also the fact that no matter what one's opinion is of Snape or what side he is on he is most certainly not a coward.

I think it is an important line and that the author is drawing attention for some reason.

His reaction could so many things 1.) it could mean he just killed someone who was weak and defensless to please your master and are then called a coward by a 16 year old who looks almost exactly like a person you hated with a passion,2.) You just killed someone so you could continue with your plan for the greater good and are critised by someone who had no idea what is really going on, or 3.)you were forced to kill someone so you wouldn't be killed by voldomort and still keep up the facade of loyalty while your still working for yourself. Any of these could be the right or the wrong thing! I can't wait to see why Snape acted the way he did.

Hi. Maybe his reaction to it was like that, because Snape was bullied when he was a student and he hates to be called like that.

Maybe Snape reacted the way he did because he had just kill Dumbledore on the orders of the M.O.M or even on Dumbledore orders. I know when i get yelled at for something i was told to do i get very mad. So maybe thats why he is mad.

Matt

Like it has been said many times in this thread, I believe it was Harry's line before the 'coward' comment that caused Snape's profound reaction.

Possibly because Snape was under orders to act that way and therefore killed Dumbledore without really wanting to.

So, to sum it up
Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.

Well, if you believe that Severus is good and he and Dumbledore planned the whole thing, one could argue that he just acted very bravely--he killed the only person who trusts him, on orders, even though it puts him in a horrible situation.

I definitely agree with this. Snape resented being called a coward because he had just done something extremely brave (assuming he is good, anyway) and he was unable to be seen as the good guy.

Regardless of which side Snape is on (the Orders) Snape had more than enough reason to react badly to the accusation of cowardice. Snape has been a spy/undercover and doubted by the majority of the wizarding community for over sixteen years. He has time and time again risked his life and whatever reputation and relationships he may have had for whichever cause he is fighting for. In school he was terrorized by the Marauders and from the sound of it countless others, and before that his father and still he continues with some form of dignity, and is a very proud man in a unique way. Despite his utter hate and lets face it, probable fear, for and of the Marauders that developed during Hogwarts, he deals with all four of them time and time again. He works in the Order with James and Peter and twice with Sirius and Remus, and possibly with Peter in the ranks of Death Eaters. Despite his probable petrification as a teenager being faced with a werewolf he keeps his mouth shut, then years later prepares the Wolfsbane Potion for the same man, who also sat idily as he was humiliated. And as he has been a double agent for over sixteen years he has been put in numberless situations that would no doubt scare and go against whatever moral code he has, and yet he does it because it is his job. And to kill Dumbledore is to put him in the most danger he possibly could, no matter what side he is working for. The entire wizarding world will be out to kill him, to be called a coward would be a great insult. Especially by the son of a man who once made your life miserable and died before you could make things even.

Well, before I go on, here's my theory.

Dumbledore had pleaded with Snape, saying, "Severus... Severus please..." not because Dumbledore wanted Snape to spare his life. Quite on the contrary, I believe that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to end it. I think the whole plot, everything from the infiltration of Hogwarts to the killing of Dumbledore, was, paradoxically, plotted by Dumbledore himself, with the aid of Snape.

Before I go any further, I sincerely believe Snape is a good person, not a miscreant like many make him out to be. Let's put thing into Snape's perspective. Snape was not on Voldemort's favorite list. When Voldemort was vanquished for the first time by Harry, Snape was one of most of the Death Eaters to forget his existence and move on, if you look at it like Voldemort does and view Snape as a Death Eater, even though he isn't. Then, on the day of Voldemort's return, Snape did not answer his master's beckoning, even though he clearly had to feel his mark burn. Snape has been working under Dumbledore ever since the end of Voldemort's first reign, and considering that Dumbledore is one of Voldemort's adversaries, Voldemort must have some suspicions concerning Snape's loyalty.

Snape is a master Occlumens, so Voldemort cannot be sure that anything he sees in Snape's mind, if Snape were to oblige him entrance, is truthful. I am sure an accomplished Occlumens has the power to make intruder's see memories they want them to, and possibly even fabricate memories. So, Voldemort has no real assurance that Snape is loyal to himself and not to Dumbledore, and because of this doubt, Snape is most likely not within Voldemort's inner circle, with whom he plans all his vestigous plots. Dumbledore realized Snape's position and offered a solution to his dilemma.

The one way in which Voldemort could undoubtedly trust Severus Snape was for Snape to do something extreme and greatly helpful to the dark Lord that would abominate the questioning of his loyalty. Naturally, for the Dark Lord, this sort of action would most likely be the death of an enemy. Although Voldemort's main enemy is Harry, Snape couldn't go and kill Harry because Harry was vital to the survival of the Wizarding Community, and without him the world was fall into the hands of Voldemort. Next on Voldemort's hit list was Dumbledore, and Dumbledore realized this.

So, he hatched a plan with Snape so that Snape would kill Dumbledore, although unwillingly, and thus gain a permanent place of trust within the Dark Lord. This would put Snape in a place in which he could be of use when the time was necessary for him to help the war effort against Voldemort, even clandestinely, perhaps by sabotaging or leaking important information that would only be available to the ears of Voldemort's inner circle.

Now, you must understand Snape's scenario. I firmly believe that he is working against Voldemort, but as to where his loyalties lie, I would say it's neither to Voldemort or the Order. But rather to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was the only person who truly gave Snape the time of day and understood him for what he was and why he made the decisions he did, besides, maybe, Lily. Dumbledore had it in his heart to give Snape a second chance, despite his dark past, and that most probably meant something far beyond simple gratitude on Snape's part. It instill a deep loyalty and fierce admiration for Dumbledore.

So, back on topic. Dumbledore was not pleading with Snape to save his life, but rather to end it. This was most likely the hardest thing Snape ever had to do. He had to kill the one man who had given him a chance, the one man who trusted him enough to redeem himself. When no one else ever believed in him, Dumbledore stuck firmly by his side and defended on numerous occasions. And now, he was forced to kill the man who had so graciously accepted him for who he was. This was why Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to go through with it, to respect his wishes for on last time.

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
page 395, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]
Some of you are undoubtedly wondering why Snape would have such a distinct anger and hatred displayed on his face if he was really regretting and sad that he had to kill Dumbledore. This animosity is due to two possible things. The first is hatred of what he is doing. As I said before, it was so hard for Snape to kill the one man who had helped him so much. He hated having to do it, hated it with a burning passion. The second is hatred for himself. He is loathing himself at this point in time for doing something that seems so wrong. And he knows he will hate himself for ever doing it, even though it is necessary.

"...After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - Albus Dumbledore
page 297, Philosopher's Stone [US Edition]
It is unrealistic, as you said before, that Dumbledore would plead for his life because, according to the quote, Dumbledore is not afraid of death at all. Instead, he views as the "next great adventure". Frankly, it is impossible to think that Dumbledore would ever plead for his life, except in maybe the most extreme of situations.

"No!" roared Snape and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had started; Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching his wand and panting; somewhere overhead Snape was shouting, "Have you forgotten orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord -- we are to leave him! Go! Go!"
page 603, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]
Again, Snape demonstrated his loyalty to the now deceased Dumbledore. Snape knew that Harry was the key to the defeat of the Dark Lord. He knew Dumbledore, beyond anything else, wanted, needed, that Harry stay alive to end the war. Snape, despite his loathing for Harry, stopped the Death Eaters who were performing the Cruciatus Curse on Harry. It seems rather obvious, to someone as cunning as Snape, that Voldemort would not care how Harry was obtained, whether he did it himself or someone else got him for him, so long as Harry was at his disposal. I doubt Voldemort had any inclination to get Harry himself, but Snape made it seem like he did to stop the other Death Eaters from attacking and possibly killing Harry. Although some may argue this is due to the bond Snape had for James after James saved Snape from Remus, I already think that that bond has been repaid in full after Snape saved Harry during the Quidditch match in book 1 after de-jinxing Harry's broom.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. To sum it all up, we can conclude, if you adhere to my beliefs and theory, that Dumbledore was not pleading to spare his life but to end his life, as I believe the murder was premeditated, on both the convict [Snape] and the victim's [Dumbledore] part.

"Kill me then," panted Harry. who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. "Kill me me like you killed him, you coward —"
"DON'T —" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind him —"CALL ME A COWARD!"
page 604, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]
Back on topic, after all Snape has done, after the ultimate sacrifice Snape was forced to make just a short while ago, he was still referred to as a coward. Although Snape's position is misunderstood on Harry's part, which ensues in wrongfully inflicting words, the words still cut Snape deep. He realizes that, after all he has done, people will still think he is a traitor until the truth is revealed, presumably after Voldemort's has been destroyed. This made Snape very angry at Harry, and the rest of the 'good' side for not understanding what he had to do, just a while ago. It required bravery, but Harry would never know of it.

Also, James most likely called Snape a coward on a regular basis, due to animosity between the two. And because of Jame's 'political power' [he was popular], maybe Snape was outcasted and viewed upon as a coward during his school years at Hogwarts. This would be literally rubbing the salt in the wound. He was being called a coward by son of his enemy, when he had just completed potentially the bravest thing anoyone has ever done for the war effort. This is what enraged Snape, or so I think.

This would only make sense to those who believe Snape is a good guy though.

Harry called Snape 'a coward', because he wouldn't fight him when he was trying to escape the grounds. Every time Harry fired a curse at him, Snape flicked them out of the road.......in other words, he didn't want to hurt Harry, as he'd said "Blocked again, and again and.........He killed Dumbledore on the Headmasters' orders, something I sure he didn't want to do!

We dunno that, I agree but don't state it as though it's fact.

I think it's one of two possibilities:

1- We don't know why he reacts to "coward" but we might find out why through Dumbledore's Portrait, or through a penesive

2- He is really good, and he's sacrificed and done so much to help the Order and infiltrate Voldemort's inner circle.

he was angry to the fact that Harry was calling him to a coward because he was depressed and sad that he had just killed Dumbledore on his orders.He was feared of killing hin.That is why he was angry at Dumbledore (when Hagrid overheard them)..So in a way he was showing his anger towards Dumbleore..He had done the greatest job Dumbledore might have ever asked him to do.And when Harry called him a coward he was frustrtaed to hear the comment of Harry who did'nt know the plot..Angry at him for calling him a coward who had killed Dumbledore and in near future would help him

I'd say that little Snape has been teased about being called a coward, and flipped at Harry for bringing up bad memories.

NOBODY calls me chicken, Needles, NOBODY!

:P

I think its important to note here that we are seeing the story from Harry's point of view. Harry hates Snape and as we all ready know there are things DD knows that he did not tell Harry. So lets face it; the mad just lost his job, his mentor and know has no choice but to align himself totally to LV or risk death. I also believe that loath Harry or not Snape feels responsible for Harry and didnt want to hear the very person he probally just saved call him a coward.

I think as always with Snape, there is no one particular reason why he reacted in this way.

Firstly, as lil miss panic has pointed out, Snape has just lost everything, his job, his mentor, friend and probably the only person who loved him and believed in him.

He has just risked his life by killing Dumbledore, as every good wizard, witch and auror will think nothing of avada kadavra-ing him on sight, and he won't even be able to publicly grieve. This was because he was bound to Narcissa...something very brave to do.

He now has no choice but to return to the DEs and is probably petrified that he will end up believing the tripe that Voldemort spouts in his attempt to cleanse the world of muggles and become supreme overlord.

He has probably been back to them in the past for the unknown quests that we believe occured in GOF and OOTP at great personal risk to himself.

During Karkaroff's trial in which he names Snape as a DE, Dumbledore states he has done other work for the OOTP whilst in danger.

James called him a coward on occasions.

He was seen cowering as a child when his Mum was being abused by his Father, maybe this is a reason why he is annoyed at being seen as a coward.

All of these things show that from our point of view, Snape is most clearly not a coward. He is probably annoyed that Harry is so blinkered in his point of view of Snape that he cannot see what personal sacrifices Snape has made. That would annoy anyone.

I predict he was actually working with Dumbeldore all along until recently in which Voldemort actually blackmailed him in a way to join him again. So unfortunatly he joined so that's why he got extremely angry being called a coward.
Well that's my predictions..

The key, I think, is the fact that Rowling immediately compared Snape's reaction to the pain of the trapped animal in Hagrid's burning hut.

Severus was forced into his actions, did what was necessary but wholly against his desire, especially since he has now closed off his one avenue for proving his character.

Defend Snape for as long as possible, it doesn't change the fact that he disobeyed orders to teach Harry Occumency, that he sabataged every potion lesson and went out of his way to get Harry as low a grade as possible, that he would have had Harry in detention 3 days after Sirius death filing papers on his and James records if he had his way. Snape has never done anything he didn't want to do. If he did kill Dumbledore, it was not against his will.

I think it was a gut reaction to a name he was called at school, home, or how voldemort gets under his skin

Believing that Snape serves only himself, I interpreted the scene as follows. Snape knew that killing a defenceless, weakened old man wasn't an act of bravery. Whatever side he is on, I do think that he had a certain amount of reluctant respect for Dumbledore. Harry's accusation struck a chord.

I agree. Snape has no particularly serious reaction the first time Harry calls him a coward- he just sneers per spec. He only loses control when Harry does so in regards to his having killed Dumbledore.

I agree. Snape has no particularly serious reaction the first time Harry calls him a coward- he just sneers per spec. He only loses control when Harry does so in regards to his having killed Dumbledore.

I agree. And right at that precise moment he's comapred to the howling dog in the burning house - I take this to mean he's in pain because he was called a coward for killing Dumbledore. But he has to learn to deal with that, he must have known that the whole wizarding world will hold that opinion for him, possibly until after he's dead. (I'm getting increasignly dramatic already! :) )

Defend Snape for as long as possible, it doesn't change the fact that he disobeyed orders to teach Harry Occumency, that he sabataged every potion lesson and went out of his way to get Harry as low a grade as possible, that he would have had Harry in detention 3 days after Sirius death filing papers on his and James records if he had his way. Snape has never done anything he didn't want to do. If he did kill Dumbledore, it was not against his will.

Did he disobey? Or was his style of teaching just completly wrong for the situation. And Harry got a good mark in potions. Obviously he learned in Snapes class.

Ok you have to look at this as Snape. You hate James, he was handsome, popluar, and teased you. Then his kid The Chosen One comes in your class and has all his popularity, and skill. You know from day one this kid is going to face Voldemort. You know better than anyone the kind of danger this smarmy little brat is going to have to face (thats tough wording but think like Snape). And here he is, taking dumb risks, when everything depends on him, slacking off, when the world is in his hands.

Snapes constant and unrelentless assults on Harry in both potions and occulemecey are reflective of his rage, and his teaching. Harry wont have the luxeries of time when the big moment comes. Like Harry said, you just have your wit, your nerve (remember how very like Snape he sounded there!?). Snape is teaching him in the most effective way Harry has or will ever be taught.

I agree. And right at that precise moment he's comapred to the howling dog in the burning house - I take this to mean he's in pain because he was called a coward for killing Dumbledore. But he has to learn to deal with that, he must have known that the whole wizarding world will hold that opinion for him, possibly until after he's dead. (I'm getting increasignly dramatic already! :) )

I agree completely. He will recive a death redemption. And we will be terribly vindicated.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the DADA curse turns those teachers into the very thing they hate and That last line was Snape realizing that.
1)THe previously respected Quirrell seeking immortality, into a stuttering fool that died.
2)The Vain Lockhart looses his Lies about his own accomplishments and "forgets himself"
3)Lupin Wolfs out and risks the lives of his friends and students.
4)Moody- "becomes" a death eater
5)Umbridge nearly uses the unforgivable curse which would have made her a criminal.
6.) Snape kills DD...

The firs time Snape hears the word “coward” he simply turns in round on Harry– implying that James is the one who was cowardly, and pointed out to Harry how James would only face him when it was 4 on one.

Though we see that James himself was decent once Lily and he hooked up – he grew up. So the James we see Snape’s Worst memory, is the kind of guy who allowed himself to be coerced by Sirius and other stupid things that bullies often let themselves be swayed by- mainly external validation.
On the tower shortly before the Death Eaters arrive Dumbledore is telling Draco that he – alone- is not a killer, he makes the point that Draco won’t act until the others arrive. “You’re afraid to act without the others- I see” Draco is allowing himself to be bullied into this decision by external circumstances.

When Snape arrived to enact the vow- DD was weak and out numbered. Snape had 4 people behind him. Snape found himself in a situation that he hated 4 against 1- coerced by external circumstances- with the others as witnesses egging him on and the Unbreakable Vow there to kill him if he didn’t.

Snape was most humiliated when was out numbered. When Harry says “kill me like you killed him,” He reminds Snape that in fact he was coerced to kill Dumbledore in the manner – He became in that moment the thing he hated most.

I HAVE IT!!! soz about the caps lock... i have been pondering about thsi for yonks and here is my theory: *clears throat*


Right.it starts with the theory that dd was begging snape to take his life rather than save him that night in the hbp....dd is begging sanpe to abide by their agreement they had made at some point after snape's meeting with narcissa. The agreement, in my theory, is that for the good of the cause and to protect the only chance they had of destroying voldy-poo snape was to kill dd if it was neccessary. we know about this as hargid overhears snaoe and dd talking:
''... i jus' heard snape sayin' Dumbledore took too much fer granted an' maybe he-snape-didn' wan' ter do it anymore...Dumbledore told him flat out he'd agreed ter do it an' that was all there was to it.'

Snape's emotions as he kills dd and their similarity to what harry felt as he pours the potion into dd mouth shows what side snape is really on....
''Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.'

anyway on the point, i had to explain that bit first.....
after snape has just thrown his life away for the cuase of killing dd, the very last thing he could be is a coward. knowing what he has done he is enraged by harry's taunts.....even thouhgt harry does not know truly what snape has done.....sanpe had obvioulsy went throught a gret deal and therefore was angered by harry's taunts...

The key, I think, is the fact that Rowling immediately compared Snape's reaction to the pain of the trapped animal in Hagrid's burning hut.
I agree. Snape was trapped in this situation, much like Fang was trapped in Hagrid's Hut. Snape had no decision while on the roof, and being called a coward, dedicating his life to being a double-agent for the Death Eaters and the Order, returning to Voldemort, and then killing Dumbledore; Snape is by no means a coward, and he didn't appreciate being called one by Harry, especially since he was in the middle of a tough sitatuation.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the DADA curse turns those teachers into the very thing they hate and That last line was Snape realizing that.
1)THe previously respected Quirrell seeking immortality, into a stuttering fool that died.
2)The Vain Lockhart looses his Lies about his own accomplishments and "forgets himself"
3)Lupin Wolfs out and risks the lives of his friends and students.
4)Moody- "becomes" a death eater
5)Umbridge nearly uses the unforgivable curse which would have made her a criminal.
6.) Snape kills DD...

The firs time Snape hears the word “coward” he simply turns in round on Harry– implying that James is the one who was cowardly, and pointed out to Harry how James would only face him when it was 4 on one.

Though we see that James himself was decent once Lily and he hooked up – he grew up. So the James we see Snape’s Worst memory, is the kind of guy who allowed himself to be coerced by Sirius and other stupid things that bullies often let themselves be swayed by- mainly external validation.
On the tower shortly before the Death Eaters arrive Dumbledore is telling Draco that he – alone- is not a killer, he makes the point that Draco won’t act until the others arrive. “You’re afraid to act without the others- I see” Draco is allowing himself to be bullied into this decision by external circumstances.

When Snape arrived to enact the vow- DD was weak and out numbered. Snape had 4 people behind him. Snape found himself in a situation that he hated 4 against 1- coerced by external circumstances- with the others as witnesses egging him on and the Unbreakable Vow there to kill him if he didn’t.

Snape was most humiliated when was out numbered. When Harry says “kill me like you killed him,” He reminds Snape that in fact he was coerced to kill Dumbledore in the manner – He became in that moment the thing he hated most.


How do you do it. How do you come up with these brilliant ideas. When someone asks me what I think I should just send them to look for you post.

You have really looked at this at a totally new angle and it is a good one.

But to add to what think he was really angry because at that particular moment he was being very brave.

Here's my theory on Snape. His reaction to being dubbed a coward plays a mjor role in it. Enjoy.

Snape’s Innocence: An Analysis
By: Milan Patel

Was Snape Acquainted with Draco's Task? - Why did Snape make the Unbreakable Vow?

It all started that fateful night at Spinner's End, when Snape was visited by Narcissa Malfoy and her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange. Narcissa came pleading to Snape to help her son, Draco, survive the task Voldemort had assigned to him. Voldemort had assigned such a horrifically difficult task to Draco in hope that Draco would die in the process, as penance for Lucius's failure in the Department of Mysteries in Order of the Phoenix

But Snape had gotten to his feet and strode to the small window, peered through the curtains at the deserted street, then closed them again with a jerk. He turned around to face Narcissa, frowning.

"It so happens that I know of the plan," he said in a low voice. "I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told. Nevertheless, had I not been in on the secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of great treachery to the Dark Lord."

page 32, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition][i]

This is Snape's reaction when Narcissa informs him that it is a plot devised by Voldemort that has her in such worry. This was most probably a bluff on Snape's part. Voldemort would have only told his inner circle about the plan, and Snape is most definitely not within that circle [elaborated further down below]. Snape's reaction to Narcissa's comment isn't normal for someone who would know of the plan, as someone who was aware of the plan would respond quaintly. Instead, Snape stalls for time by walking over to the window and staring out of it for a moment. It's a natural practice for someone to be looking out of the window while thinking intensely. Snape was weighing his options at this point:

1. Should he just admit he was oblivious to the plan
2. Should he try to bluff that he knew of the plan.

Obviously, the latter choice won, because it had more benefits. Bellatrix is a very influential member on the Dark side. She undoubtedly believes that Snape can not be trusted, and she has no qualms with telling the world her opinions. Many Death Eaters probably listen to her because of her significant standing with the Dark Lord. If Snape were to admit to Narcissa that he had no knowledge of the plan, in front of Bellatrix, Snape's would prove to Bellatrix that, as she believes, Snape cannot be trusted, and even the Voldemort agrees to that. This was not something Snape wanted to risk, because his membership to the Death Eaters is of paramount importance to Dumbledore. Also, deluding that he knew of the plan would most likely lead to the discussion of the plan. Snape had a chance of learning more of this plan, which, because of its secrecy, must be somewhat momentous. He therefore bluffed that he knew what it was already, in the hopes that Narcissa would divulge more into it, which she did, and salvage his reputation in front of Bellatrix.

"The Unbreakable Vow?"

Snape's expression was blank, unreadable. Bellatrix, however, let out a cackle of triumphant laughter.

"Aren't you listening, Narcissa? Oh, he'll try, I'm sure.... The usual empty words, the usual empty words, the usual slither out of action...oh, on the Dark Lord's orders, of course!"

[i]page 35, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

This is where Snape really messes up. Snape has a sore spot for being called a coward, I think. Although Bellatrix did not directly say it, she was emphasizing that he was a coward — claiming Snape was used to getting out of what he was supposed to do when the going got too tough. As is explained further on, no one understands the bravery and guts needed to do what Snape does, and for him to be called a coward because no one know about his position hurts him, a lot. It’s a blow to the heart. Snape's expression was 'blank and unreadable' after Narcissa offered to make an Unbreakable vow because he knew that this situation was extreme, and he knew he couldn't accept the Unbreakable Vow because he did not fully know the specs of Voldemort's plan. But after Bellatrix taunted him, he was determined not to give in and prove her right, and made the rash decision to accept the vow. Calling Snape a coward is rather like daring Snape to do something. Snape also couldn't have thought that the task assigned to Draco was all that difficult that he, an accomplished wizard, could not finish up if Draco failed. There was no way for Snape to foretell the extremities of the plan, and therefore he agreed to something he had no clue about.

Here is a scene of Snape confronting Draco during Hogwarts:

"Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I’m doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"

"What is your plan?"

"It's none of your business!"

"If you tell me what you are trying to do, I can assist you —"

"I've got all the assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone!"

"You were certainly alone tonight, which as foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes —"

"I would've had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention!"

page 323 Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

This proves that Snape had no knowledge of the plan. I doubt Voldemort would just tell Draco "Find a way to kill Dumbledore before the school year ends or you die". Although it was meant as a way to get Draco severely hurt or killed, I’m sure Voldemort would have outlined, or at least sketched, how he would want Draco to lure and kill Dumbledore. And, from Snape's behavior, he has no clue what the plan is or how it is going to happen. Did you notice, Snape never mentions to Draco that he knows what the plan is. He only says, to Draco, that he has made an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco. He conveniently forgot to tell Draco that he also had to fulfill what Draco did not complete. Snape, in this scene, is trying to pry information from Draco to figure out exactly what the task is by pretending he wants to help him. Also, Snape would not have put Crabbe and Goyle in detention if he knew they were playing a specific role that night. Draco hinted that he needed them that night.



Why Dumbledore's Death was Planned/Expected, on Dumbledore's Part

Here is the scene leading up to Dumbledore's death.

But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly.

"Severus..."

The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.

Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way, The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

"Severus... please..."

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.

"Avada Kedavra!"

page 595 - 596, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

Dumbledore had pleaded with Snape, saying, "Severus... Severus please..." not because Dumbledore wanted Snape to spare his life. Quite on the contrary, I believe that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to end it. I think the whole plot, everything from the infiltration of Hogwarts to the killing of Dumbledore, was, paradoxically, plotted by Dumbledore himself, with the aid of Snape.

"...After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - Albus Dumbledore

page 297, Philosopher's Stone [US Edition]

It is unrealistic, as I said before, that Dumbledore would plead for his life because, according to the quote, Dumbledore is not afraid of death at all. Instead, he views death as the "next great adventure". And I’m fairly sure this statement applies to himself, because Dumbledore's mind is most obviously well-organized.



Snape's Current Situation - Before the Death of Albus Dumbledore

Before I go any further, I sincerely believe Snape is a good person, not a miscreant like many make him out to be. Let's put thing into Snape's perspective. Snape was not on Voldemort's favorite list. When Voldemort was vanquished for the first time by Harry, Snape was one of most of the Death Eaters to forget his existence and move on, if you look at it like Voldemort does and view Snape as a Death Eater, even though he isn't. Then, on the day of Voldemort's return, Snape did not answer his master's beckoning, even though he clearly had to feel his mark burn. Snape has been working under Dumbledore ever since the end of Voldemort's first reign, and considering that Dumbledore is one of Voldemort's adversaries, Voldemort must have some suspicions concerning Snape's loyalty.

Snape is a master Occlumens, so Voldemort cannot be sure that anything he sees in Snape's mind, if Snape were to oblige him entrance, is truthful. I am sure an accomplished Occlumens has the power to make intruder's see memories they want them to, and possibly even fabricate memories. So, Voldemort has no real assurance that Snape is loyal to himself and not to Dumbledore, and because of this doubt, Snape is most likely not within Voldemort's inner circle, with whom he plans all his vestigous plots. Dumbledore realized Snape's position and offered a solution to his dilemma.




Why Snape and Dumbledore Planned Dumbledore's Death

As I said before, Snape's big mistake was the Unbreakable Vow. Snape must have informed Dumbledore of his predicament after making the Vow with Narcissa. Snape must have told Dumbledore this information later on, and, after analyzing the scenario, Dumbledore came to the decision to have Snape kill him for ulterior motives. This is why I do not believe Snape killed Dumbledore out of cold blood.

The one way in which Voldemort could undoubtedly trust Severus Snape was for Snape to do something extreme and greatly helpful to the dark Lord that would abominate the questioning of his loyalty. Naturally, for the Dark Lord, this sort of action would most likely be the death of an enemy. Although Voldemort's main enemy is Harry, Snape couldn't go and kill Harry because Harry was vital to the survival of the Wizarding Community, and without him the world was fall into the hands of Voldemort. Next on Voldemort's hit list was Dumbledore, and Dumbledore realized this.

So, he hatched a plan with Snape so that Snape would kill Dumbledore, although unwillingly, and thus gain a permanent place of trust within the Dark Lord. This would put Snape in a place in which he could be of use when the time was necessary for him to help the war effort against Voldemort, even clandestinely, perhaps by sabotaging or leaking important information that would only be available to the ears of Voldemort's inner circle.

Now, you must understand Snape's scenario. I firmly believe that he is working against Voldemort, but as to where his loyalties lie, I would say it's neither to Voldemort or the Order. But rather to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was the only person who truly gave Snape the time of day and understood him for what he was and why he made the decisions he did, besides, maybe, Lily. Dumbledore had it in his heart to give Snape a second chance, despite his dark past, and that most probably meant something far beyond simple gratitude on Snape's part. It instill a deep loyalty and fierce admiration for Dumbledore.

So, back on topic. Dumbledore was not pleading with Snape to save his life, but rather to end it. This was most likely the hardest thing Snape ever had to do. He had to kill the one man who had given him a chance, the one man who trusted him enough to redeem himself. When no one else ever believed in him, Dumbledore stuck firmly by his side and defended on numerous occasions. And now, he was forced to kill the man who had so graciously accepted him for who he was. This was why Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to go through with it, to respect his wishes for on last time.

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

page 595, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

Some of you are undoubtedly wondering why Snape would have such a distinct anger and hatred displayed on his face if he was really regretting and sad that he had to kill Dumbledore. This animosity is due to two possible things. The first is hatred of what he is doing. As I said before, it was so hard for Snape to kill the one man who had helped him so much. He hated having to do it, hated it with a burning passion. The second is hatred for himself. He is loathing himself at this point in time for doing something that seems so wrong. And he knows he will hate himself for ever doing it, even though it is necessary.

"No!" roared Snape and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had started; Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching his wand and panting; somewhere overhead Snape was shouting, "Have you forgotten orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord -- we are to leave him! Go! Go!"

page 603, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

Again, Snape demonstrated his loyalty to the now deceased Dumbledore. Snape knew that Harry was the key to the defeat of the Dark Lord. He knew Dumbledore, beyond anything else, wanted, needed, that Harry stay alive to end the war. Snape, despite his loathing for Harry, stopped the Death Eaters who were performing the Cruciatus Curse on Harry. It seems rather obvious, to someone as cunning as Snape, that Voldemort would not care how Harry was obtained, whether he did it himself or someone else got him for him, so long as Harry was at his disposal. I doubt Voldemort had any inclination to get Harry himself, but Snape made it seem like he did to stop the other Death Eaters from attacking and possibly killing Harry. Although some may argue this is due to the bond Snape had for James after James saved Snape from Remus, I already think that that bond has been repaid in full after Snape saved Harry during the Quidditch match in book 1 after de-jinxing Harry's broom.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. To sum it all up, we can conclude, if you adhere to my beliefs and theory, that Dumbledore was not pleading to spare his life but to end his life, as I believe the murder was premeditated, on both the convict [Snape] and the victim's [Dumbledore] part.



Snape's Reactions and Actions to Being Called a Coward - Further Proof.

"Kill me then," panted Harry. who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward —"

"DON'T —" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind him —"CALL ME A COWARD!"

page 604, Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

Snape, although he is respected by Dumbledore, is looked upon by the Order, and everyone else who fights for the good side, as a slimy, greasy, foul tempered man. No one likes him and they doubt his loyalty because of his former status [Death Eater]. But, they believe in Dumbledore's judgment, and so the Order grudgingly allows Snape to remain in the organization. As I said before, no one understands Snape's true position and importance, and therefore they misjudge him. Although Snape understands this, it still takes a toll on his heart when he hears people talk about him in a derogatory manner. So, when Snape is called a coward, when is anything but, it enrages him.

Another catalyst may be none other than James Potter. James most likely called Snape a coward on a regular basis, due to animosity between the two. And because of James’s 'political power' [he was popular], maybe Snape was outcasted and viewed upon as a coward during his school years at Hogwarts. This would be literally rubbing the salt in the wound. He was being called a coward by son of his enemy, when he had just completed potentially the bravest thing anyone has ever done for the war effort.

This situation is similar to when Bellatrix, in so many words, called Snape a coward after he was speechless when Narcissa wanted him to make an Unbreakable Vow. The anger at being called a coward spurs Snape to make irrational decisions, which led to the acceptance of the Unbreakable Vow. If you believe in my theory, this led to the death of Dumbledore, even if it was planned by Dumbledore himself.

After all Snape has done, after the ultimate sacrifice Snape was forced to make just a short while ago, he was still referred to as a coward. Although Snape's position is misunderstood on Harry's part, which ensues in wrongfully inflicting words, the words still cut Snape deep. He realizes that, after all he has done, people will still think he is a traitor until the truth is revealed, presumably after Voldemort's has been destroyed. It required bravery, but Harry would never know of it. If you look at it from this point of view, Snape's course of action in attacking Harry is not extreme nor surprising.

It can be drawn, as I said before, that Snape makes irrational decisions and behaves rashly when he is defiled as a coward, or any other negative insult of the same context.



Will Snape Come Back to the Good Side?

I don't think it's a question of Snape coming back to the good side, but rather if the good side will let Snape come back. The only people who truly knew Snape's role in the war, if you agree with my theory, were Snape and Dumbledore. Now that Dumbledore is dead, the only person left who knows the whole truth is Snape. All of the good side thinks Snape is bad, and I doubt they would give him the chance to explain.

Rather, I think that Snape will work undercover for the good side, unbeknownst to them of course, and sabotage Voldemort's plans, or something along those lines, now that Snape is privy to all the information regarding what Voldemort will do.



Why Was Snape Able to Cast the Killing Curse on Dumbledore If He Didn't Hate Him?

Why was Snape able to cast the killing curse upon Albus Dumbledore if he didn't truly hate him? It was mentioned and explained blatantly throughout the books that to cast any of the Unforgivables extreme hatred is needed

"Never used an Unforgivable curse before, have you, boy?" she yelled. She abandoned her baby voice now. "You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain — to enjoy it — righteous anger won't hurt me for long — I'll show you how it is done, shall i? I'll give you a lesson —"

page 810, Order of the Phoenix [US Edition]

Not only hatred is needed, but the want to cause pain. After all Dumbledore has done for Snape, it's impossible for Snape to want to kill him.

But, of course, there's an explanation.

There was a flash of green light, a rushing sound, and Frank Bryce crumpled. He was dead before he hit the floor

page 15, Order of the Phoenix [US edition]

A blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids, and he heard something heavy fall to the ground beside him.

page 638, Order of the Phoenix [US edition]

Every time someone is hit the Avada Kedavra they just fall to the ground, lifeless.

But when Dumbledore is killed:

A jet of green light shot from one end of Snape's wand and hit Dumbledore squarely in the chest. Harry's scream of horror never left him; silent and unmoving, he was forced to watch as Dumbledore was blasted into the air. For a split second, he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull, and then he fell slowly backward, like a great rag doll, over the battlements and out of sight.

page 596 Half-Blood Prince [US Edition]

So how come, when Dumbledore was hit with the curse he was blasted into the air, when everyone else who had been hit by the curse just fell to the ground lifeless?

Didn't you find it ironic that the whole concept of wordless spells was introduced in this book? I think the reason Rowling did this was because that's exactly what Snape did.

Although the incantation Avada Kedavra came out of his mouth, he was thinking of and saying some other curse in his head, and instead of the killing curse being cast, it was spell he was thinking upon. This spell must emit a green beam of light, like the killing curse, but produces an effect similar to that of a banishing charm.













Okay, I am finally done. Keep in mind that this is all speculation on my part, and there will undoubtedly be parts that you do not agree with me on. It is all speculation, after all.

How do you do it. How do you come up with these brilliant ideas. When someone asks me what I think I should just send them to look for you post.

You have really looked at this at a totally new angle and it is a good one.

But to add to what think he was really angry because at that particular moment he was being very brave.
:blush: **blushing** um... thanks. :blush:

Snape’s Innocence: An Analysis By: Milan Patel
The anger at being called a coward spurs Snape to make irrational decisions, which led to the acceptance of the Unbreakable Vow.

THIS is an excellent observation. For me, It all comes back to the powers of Evil using what we fear the most- or hate the most about oursleves to hurt each other. Snape hated being called or implied to be a coward. but in the end he is re-enacting something that mirrors how James treated him- (4 on 1) and on top of that he got into it - all because Bellatrix implied that he was scared to do it. She might as well have said "Double Dog Dare ya!" to Snape in the same way Sirius and Peter might have said "Double Dog Dare ya" to James before cursing Snape -with Levicorpus!

Yet i certainly agree Snape has shown very subtle and hidden courage throughout the series. But it's not the "showy" kind. Which reminds me of JKRowlings quote:JK Rowling: Well, I would want to be in Gryffindor and the reason I would want to be in Gryffindor is because I do prize courage in all its various ramifications. I value it more highly than any other virtue and by that I mean not just physical courage and flashy courage, but moral courage. (link (http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-edinburgh-ITVcubreporters.htm))

I believe Snape loved DD as his own dad,he always trusted him and gave him a second chance..i think he killed him under DD own orders and beggin....Severus please...
And i think killing him took so many guts fromhim,to do it against his will to follow DD orders,that having harry call him a coward just gets him cause his done it all for him for harry who he hates but has promised DD to help as much as he can...

Wow- to tuer3- Don't know what to say. Incredible job you did on this:tu:

I have not read the whole thread but pages here and there and there are some amazing, perceptive ideas in here. As for me, I have been of two minds (the Gemini in me:) since reading HBP for the first time. I have since read it 4 more times and read a myriad of opinions on thiswonderfully complex character. After my first reading, I felt Snape had finally shown his true colors and was evil. He was duped into making the unbreakable vow. When reading that he looked at DD with hate and revulsion, I saw this as him feeling "you foolish old man- look what you've gotten me into- now I either have to kill you or die myself". I thought he made the selfish decision to kill DD and save himself, and when Harry called him coward, lost it because he knew in his heart that is what he was. More to it but thats the gist.
THEN, through this past year, I have come to believe Snape might, in fact, be good. Yes, he does despise Harry because he is immature enough to not be able to let go of his hatred for James. But he respected DD and felt acceptance FROM DD, which I suspect was a new thing for this boy/man, based on the memories already cited. He made the vow because he had to to maintain his cover. He and DD worked out "the plan", he did not want to follow through, hence the argument. Then, on the tower, roused from sleep and having no clue what Malfoy was able to accomplish, came upon a scene that caused all sorts of things to go through his mind. I think DD's "plea" was for Snape to meet his eyes and get the message from DD that Harry was on the tower and must be protected. The hate and revulsion was agony at himself for getting into this awful situation where he now had to kill the man he loved and respected and who had given him, not only acceptance but a purpose and meaning to his life. He also knew that his days of safety were over and he faced exclusion from the order, having to go on the run with no chance of the good side believing anything he had to say etc....
The "pain" clue with Fluffy was just that- a clue. In agonizing, emotional pain, having done the bravest, most awful thing he had ever had to do, this young snot, the spitting image of his father, has the utter nerve to call him a coward!

Originaly posted by Montse
I believe Snape loved DD as his own dad,he always trusted him and gave him a second chance..i think he killed him under DD own orders and beggin....Severus please...
And i think killing him took so many guts fromhim,to do it against his will to follow DD orders,that having harry call him a coward just gets him cause his done it all for him for harry who he hates but has promised DD to help as much as he can...
I'm not convinced that Dumbledore and Snape are not related in some way, which is why he can’t stop trusting Snape. Snape's reaction to Coward is simple. He's in control as long as he's the one doing the taunting and insulting. But bring his school-bully grudge to the surface and it's thar-she-blows-Snape and it's down hill from there.
Originaly posted by Celestrin.
Harry got a good mark in potions. Obviously he learned in Snapes class.
Harry got Exceeds Expectations because his Expectations were Troll. Snape saw to that you can bet on it. “I have tried to teach Potter the difficult art of Potions for five years to no avail. He gets bottom marks in every lesson. I’ve tried everything to improve Potters Potion skills including Remedial Potion, it hasn’t helped. And I expect his OWL’s will be T’s across the board". That's the real Snape when he's in control. Harry only learned from Snape the book, not the man.

Technically, the title for this thread isn't quite accurate. Snape didn't react especially to the word coward. It had already been used only a few moments before and he failed to react noticeably.

It should be, technically, "Snape's reaction to 'Kill me like you killed him", which is the phrase that truly caused him to lose control.

I would guess that it is because he has been risking his life to help out Dumbledore by pretending to serve Voldemort. After he killed Dumbledore, when Harry called him a coward, I think he almost lost his cool and gave away the fact that he was actually serving Dumbledore
Very confusing :hmm:

I think that maybe its not the first time he was called a coward. He took it way too personally. Harry really struck a chord with Snape and he reacted similarly when Harry saw SWM in the pensieve. It got too personal for Snape both times, and we all know that he isnt the type of guy to let his guard down and let anyone "in".