- Seveurs Snape & The Prisoner of Azkaban -

Movie Review

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Movie Analysis

Great Feast

Notice how Snape is now sitting right next to the Headmaster while in the first movie, he was down the table on the left. Now, he's on the right (students view)  He really looks so stern sitting there however.  Maybe Remus's presence disturbs him more than he would care to admit.  And after 15 years, maybe he's tired of these speeches!

His look of disgust towards Lupin is remarkable.  You would think Lupin's shabby clothes were stinky.  What amazes me is that he claps his hand at all. He does three times, very fast, but he still does even though is timing is late compared to the rest of the school.  

Boggart Lesson

How did you like the boggart scene?  Quite weird to see Snape suddenly rendered powerless in grandmother clothes isn't it!  Alan Rickman did a good job on this one. You can feel his incomprehension as a boggart.  Just before he is transformed, you can see that he's trying to join his hands so as to further make a frightening impression on Neville.

Talking about Neville, my dear friend told me that she couldn't fathom the reasons why Dumbledore would keep Snape terrorizing poor Neville if he were what he feared most.  Indeed, how come Neville isn't terrorized by Dark Wizards, Voldemort or anything else?  He is afraid of Snape even though his parents were tortured, he saw some people die, etc.  It doesn't make sense in a way, does it?  I believe that in fact, Neville is (frankly) a little simple on the side, hence, simple persons would indeed be afraid of what's happening to them in the present and not in the future.  Therefore, he fears Snape because he has to face him each day of his life at Hogwarts while the thoughts of say, being tortured, is not always there.  I'm sure that if Rowling had not meant to turn this into a funny scene, we would have seen that Neville's worst fear was along the lines of his parents being killed or tortured.  Remember the spider in Book4. Poor little thing was crutiated by Moody.  Neville trembled so much!  Yet, in Book3, Neville didn't tremble like that when faced with Snape.  That's my opinion anyway.

Sleeping in the Great Hall

Next time we see Snape in the movie, if I recall, is after the Fat Lady incident. He comes back to the Great Hall after looking up for Black in the Dungeons.  Then, he pursues by asking pretty much what he did in the Book.  Whether if the Headmaster had any idea how he got in, and how he pointed out that he had expressed his concerns when he hired Lupin. But as in the Book, Albus stopped him in his tracks.  He has an incredible faith in Lupin, indeed!  However, Snape having been the butt of the joke of Potter's gang for so long while in school himself, I understand why he is not so confident!  

And then, he asks whether Potter should be warned or not.  Strange how Snape brings up the subject.  It's like he cares for his security.  This is yet another example why I say that Harry annoys Snape for who he is, but not for anything else.  Snape will do what he must, hence if he must warn Potter, he will. If he must defend him, he will.
Did you see his face when Dumbledore indirectly talked to Harry who was awoken in the Great Hall?  Funny!  He looked as if Albus was talking about Valentine's Day or something or as if thinking: "Oh no! Here comes another wise platitude from our  Headmaster!"


from The Leaky Cauldron
 

DADA class with Snape

The DADA class!  I've been waiting a long time to see this!!

First, Snape makes his dramatic and very effective entrance.  Chattering ends. Snape closes the window panes thanks to wordless magic, each by a swift wick of his wand.  He knows what he's doing and where he's heading!  It does present a preparedness to his teaching style, doesn't it!  The magical overhead (which surprised me to no end since it looks so old fashioned to me, but I'm not the artistic creator, am I!) is ready to use, the pictures already loaded in the canon!  Everything is ready for class to start promptly, just as Snape likes it.  Fans will have noticed that he made the same entrance in the first movie.  Prowling through the door, slamming it shut and heading directly for the front of the classroom.

And then... "Turn to page 394"  Oh!  I'm making jokes at home with this now!  When I want to use my most serious expression and make a point, I repeat "page 394" with the English accent at that!  My family finds it funny, and so do I because it does convey, in such a single phrase, the wholeness of Snape. His assurance, his directness, his eloquence, and his wish not to be disturbed while delivering his speech, unless he asks for it. His entrance had quite an impact, and believe me, I would have turned to the right page as well had I been there! ; )

Then, of course, Potter has something to ask.  BUT not before we are presented with a silent delay which Snape allows his students to find said page 394. Hence, he is not, as we would all presume, a bad teacher in every respect. He knows how to give time as well.

When Harry asks what happened to Lupin, Snape finds nothing more to say than deny a direct answer. Notice how Potter did not raise his hand before asking.  He does however wait until Snape looks down at him before asking. Snape is hence capable of allowing students to ask questions, if they're not impertinent that is.  And in this case, Snape is way to happy to allow his students to get a glimpse as to why Lupin is not there, that he is incapable of teaching.  The word "incapable" was quite accentuated in Snape's speech. I believe Snape reserves himself the right to punish or not any questions: he didn't for Harry because it served his purpose to slyly inform students that Lupin is a werewolf. Whether as for Hernione who will speak out of turn twice after, it's punishable because she questioned Snape's teaching. Therefore, we see a new side of Snape in which he allows questions, but at some price. Hence, students in his classes should be wary of inopportune questions.

Then, Snape heads for the back of the class and repeats his instructions: "Page 394!"  I reckon that the repetition is a persuasive technique.  If you keep repeating what you want, where your students should be, it means that you want to go and start explaining. Hence, he's putting a stop to any further questions concerning Lupin.  As a teacher, I know because it happens all the time: you instruct students to turn to a certain page, then a questions out of nowhere spreads out, you answer it and in order to get back to what you were talking about and close the out-of-the-blue subject, you repeat the page once again.  

I smiled when Snape turned Ron's pages for him!  It's so realistic!!  There always is a student who is NOT ready to start when you are!  And in those times, I just wished I had to wand to do just that and turn their little books to the right page.  I sometimes do for some students who seem clueless even though the darn page is clearly written on the board. When I have to do it myself to stop students from rummaging loudly into their books and indispose the rest of the class or just skimming slowly up to the right page just to save learning time (I hate those!!), I usually add a small comments like: "You don't seem to be able to find the page, I'll help you" or "I thought page 30 was right after page 29, right?"  I use a bit of sarcasm in those times, but believe me, it works!  And I usually never have to come back to the same student anymore because he doesn't want me to repeat the act.  He wants to do it by himself after all, he doesn't want to look like a baby. Therefore, after I do it once, I pretty much never have to do it twice.  That's what I liked about Snape doing that in the movie!  : )  The annoyed expression on his face looked just like mine when such things happen!

Now, Hermione comes in!! Out of nowhere of course! Though I did notice a mistake in the sticker book that came with my mom's magazine the other day: her time-turner was out for everyone to see. Now wouldn't Snape be able to recognise one?  Movie mistake indeed. But back to our subject: Hermione arguing that they did not cover that part yet.  Oh boy!!  How dare she confront the professor like that?  Well, the reason is simple: she wanted to inform him, to rectify the situation because she maybe thought that he had been misinformed. However, Snape was not of course. All he wanted was for students to see and especially recognise a werewolf.  Snape must really be fed up with Remus's coming to Hogwarts, right!  Then again, he is not as desperate and selfish as many would have thought since he didn't say anything out loud.  He gave all the clues, but never the answer.  I wonder what kept him so long.  You may say trust in Dumbledore since, after he realised he had been tricked by Sirius's escape and that the Headmaster didn't do anything about it, then he let it slipped.  But not before, even when he had suspicions that Remus had helped Sirius get into the castle.  So it has to be a very powerful trust indeed don't you think so? At the same time, by allowing students to cover the werewolves in class, Snape is slyly attempting to "wake them up".  And if any of them are not dunderheads, they will uncover the truth easily enough and do the dirty job for Snape. Quite a Slytherin attitude indeed. At that point in the movie and book, Snape was unwilling to let it out that he had known the fact. However, when Sirius escapes, he has no more bad conscience about delivering the truth to his Slytherins, whom he knows will use it well.  All that to say that Hermione's replica to Snape was badly interpreted by the latter.   He says: "Quiet" just as he used "Page 394" to resume class without adding any comments.  

Did you notice that the images are all from different cultures?  Greek, Egyptian, Hindu, Primitive and Medieval if I'm right. It proves that Snape makes efforts to be has accurate and educative as possible.  He doesn't just talk about werewolves, he shows its history at the same time as well as the etymology.

But it doesn't stop there. No!!  When Snape asks the class what's the difference between an animagus and a werewolf, I'm pretty sure he knows nobody (except Hermione) can answer.  Which is why he didn't even bother looking back. In the book, he purposely ignored Granger's raised up hand.  Hence, I assume that's exactly what they want for the movie, except for the fact that when he asks the question, his back is turned and can "physically" not see Granger's hand. But Snape being so perceptive, I'm pretty sure the authors thought it was obvious that he was ignoring her. Did you see Snape's face actually "fall off" when Granger started answering?  So good!! He had his characteristic sneer plastered on his face just after saying: "Nobody?  How disappointing!" That's exactly when Granger starts her soliloquy and Snape' sneer vanishes to be replaced by an annoyed expression.  As if thinking: "Oh no! The slip of a girl spoke out of turn, again, providing the answers for all of her pathetic simpleton and lazy friends".  But first, let's observe the importance of how Snape is kind of "happy" while saying "disappointing".  That's our Snape, sarcastic and proud of it and his knowledge. Even with his Slytherins! Yes, he is equal in that respect at least if not with House points! Also, there's something else, as if he was actually rejoiced to be proven right by the lack of answers. What do I mean?  That these all are dunderheaded lazy students of course!  If he asks those questions, it's mainly because he wants to prove their ignorance. But Granger is the very torn in Snape's side concerning that issue. Not to mention that, as a professor, in a long run, you get quite tired of having the same students raise their hands to offer their answers for free.  I used to do it and still do when nobody comes up with a satisfactory answer around me.

When I was young though, I used to raise my hand all the time in both the hopes of being "recognized" and sharing what I knew with the rest of my classmates.  I am an intellectual, and I always had different ideas from my classmates mixed up with a thirst for knowledge. Well...like Granger I guess.  (Shy!) But as I grew up, I began to observe the annoyance some of my teachers seemed to express at times because whenever I raised my hand, other students tended not to try in fear of not having the right answer.  Now that I think about it, I felt proud indeed, but the pressure was also enormous: what if I didn't have the right answer?  Because unlike Hermione, I was not up to the point of memorizing books like she does.  But still, I bet we would have gotten along pretty fine in class, competing in a friendly way.

Strange, but I do see it often now that I am a teacher.  How much other students lower their hands and don't take as much risk when the little Know-it-all of the class raises it.  This really comes as a big realisation right now! Memories are overloading my brain! Wow!  : )  It never occurred to me that it was so class-disturbing!  Of course, as all teachers, we always try to keep the best students' answers for the end and ask those who don't answer as often.  We become a last resort of some kind. But to come back to Snape, he doesn't even want to use that "last resort" which is Granger because in her case, her brilliance comes off as a show. Especially with Snape I reckon.  Why?  Well, being a mix of Granger-Snape myself, I know that the teachers who refused to let me answer and gave away the answer before asking me were the ones I'd almost die to impress more.  The ones who didn't want to encourage that side of me.  Snape doesn't want to encourage that in Hermione.  Hence, she's striving to get to answer and will do something as stupid as speak out of turn just for that little piece of recognition she might get.  Oh, she did get recognition, but not the positive one she hoped for!  Still, in a very wicked way, I am pretty sure Hermione will never lose hope!  I've been there and I'm still there whenever there's a "class" given for my personal education (in groups of course), and I'm not lying when I say the pressure is horrible: talk or not. Talk or not? It's mind blowing!

You could say it's a kind of game he is playing towards Granger, ignoring her, not allowing her to show off. He hates show offs, hence the insult that followed suit: insufferable annoying know-it-all. Just look at Book3 for this scene, and you'll know immediately that this was the intent of the author. Click here to see the bookmark.  

Malfoy imitates a werewolf's cry when Hermione answers it.  Snape says: "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy" without so much as a punishment. However, if you consider the tone in which he said it, he was not amused. That rather meant: "Shut up, Mr. Malfoy".  Snape has his own way with the Slytherins after all.

Then, Snape turns on Hermione about speaking out of turn for the second time.  We can easily see his logic there: I didn't say anything the first time, but I will still hold it against you since you repeated your mistake.  Something that young people have a problem with: once their teachers don't say anything the first time around, they expect them not to say anything the second.  But we all know that things can cumulate, as in Snape's case.  And then, he strikes: "This is the second time that you've spoken out of turn. Are you incapable of restraining yourself or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?" Notice that his tone of voice didn't change much while saying that. I imagined his voice louder and more stern, but the way Alan Rickman rendered it was perfect as well. Icy and to the point.  Hermione was disturbed indeed. Anybody would have been.  

What's funny though is that Ron took for Snape. Yes, he actually did in front of him!!  Strange. But anyhow, they lost 5 points, just as in the first movie when Harry had the cheek to answer back.  

Note that Malfoy sends an origami crane to Potter without Snape ever noticing.  Snape proves to be incapable of avoiding all mischief in his class after all! : )

The best part is here though: "As an antidote to your ignorance, I want on my desk Monday morning, two rolls of parchments on the werewolf..."  As an antidote indeed!  The way the students react is incredible: just as in North America. So I guess children will be children all around the world. And, it must be a Friday since Harry mentioned a Quiddtich match tomorrow! Still, I don't know about your part of the world, but when I was young, in front of teachers with bad attitudes, we did not dare show our disagreement nor our insatisfaction. Too suicidal!  But nowadays, children are more readily to answer back and be outraged in class.  How does Snape react?  He speaks louder and more pointedly so as to make his point clear. Not to mention the emphasis he puts on the word: "recognising" of the werewolf. But students don't care at all: all they see is two scrolls of parchments!  Not what Snape wants them to learn.  

And finally comes Harry's remark about Quidditch tomorrow.  And of course, Snape's gliding towards his desk, advancing like a snake on him saying: "Then I suggest you take extra care because broken limbs will not be an excuse... page 394!"  Ah!  Love the final!!  Like I said, it means : the subject is closed!

The scene ends with Snape's lesson in the background, he is describing the term werewolf, from the Anglo-saxon origin.

"Turn to page 394!"

 

from The Leaky Cauldron

"Quiet!"

 

from The Leaky Cauldron

"Nobody? How disappointing!"

 
from The Leaky Cauldron
 

Little Night Stroll with the Marauder's Map

Down the corridors of Hogwarts at night

I believe it was quite  doubtful that Snape would not consider something amiss when he found Potter who had just turned off his wand light while holding a mysterious map in his hands. Harry was not too subtle there, he didn't extinguished the light soon enough. Therefore, there is no doubt that Snape saw him take the map away into his pockets.  

Snape lights his wand, using wordless magic again, and asks him why he is wandering around the corridors at night.  Harry says he's sleepwalking!  As if!!  Snape doesn't take that kind of answer nicely. I reckon this is a kind of insult to his intelligence in a way because Harry must know Snape is not so stupid as to believe such an incredible story.  It's just like asking a student why he didn't hand in his homework and he tells you his dog ate it.  Just as credible as sleepwalking, really.  Hence, Snape retaliates : "How extraordinary like your father you are, Potter. He too was excessively arrogant. Strutting about the castle"  Harry: " My dad didn't strut! Nor do I"  Oh oh!!  Snape, as I just mentioned, doesn't take the fact that Harry utterly lies to his face too well which incidentally reminds him of how James Potter must have walked about the castle himself, gloating with pride of not being caught.  That's Severus' version of course, but thanks to book5, I'm even more willing to give him the benefit of doubt.  Remus himself said James didn't stand by rules too much, hence a little night stroll and judging rules below him can easily apply.  What prompted that reaction from Snape is memory.  I'm pretty sure James didn't excuse himself for being caught out of his dormitory at night nor even think of a proper excuse. Just like Harry did.  He doesn't confine what he's just found out about Petigrew.  That's a recurrent pattern in the HP series though: Harry doesn't confine to adults. He tries all by himself and only seeks help from adults when he is desperate. Of course, following the logic of a children's book, we can't have Harry follow all the rules and hand in any information he comes across, now can we?  No! That would spoil it all, but then, adults do have to "react" to such behaviour and to me, Snape is acting quite reasonably! Now really, imagine yourself at night walking down a street. Then you meet your little cousin (13years old) walking around with an innocent air even though it's way past midnight.  What's your reaction?  You ask him what he's doing over there. He says nothing, just walking.  You sense something is amiss, but you have no proof. You tell his tutor (Albus), because his parents are dead (and you know his father did the very same) but he says it's nothing really. However, in the end, you always discover that he had indeed been on about his personal business when you met him, up to no good or that it could have been very dangerous for him.  Then, from time to time you hear that he did it again, wandering around all alone or with 1 or 2 friends.  Hence, by the third year, you meet him again at night.  He's got something strange in his hands, with a pocket light.  He turns it off.  You appear, bring him over a place where there is light and ask him what he's doing there.  He says he's sleepwalking.  But knowing him, you know he's lying to you!  What's your reaction?  You are not happy about him trying to fool you, and do not even wish to discuss or allow him to make even more pathetic excuses.  You just get angry that he is again not following the rules even though the last few times should have been enough to teach him that wandering alone at night was not a safe activity.  Do you follow me?  What I want to prove is that Snape's reactions towards Harry and his father is just natural.  He's making judgments that's for sure since Harry didn't get to know his parents, but at the same time, there is a strong filial affinity!  Having been raised by my natural mother who was herself adopted but ended with her true family again, I can tell you that blood bounds are stronger than they appear as strange as it sounds. My ex-husband too was just like that.  So much like his parents even though he never got to grow up with them. Nothing like their adoptive parents.  And after all, I believe Rowling has made it clear that Harry is very much alike his father. Hence, I would not so readily put the blame on poor Severus.  He has the right to be angry, and even more when Lupin comes in to save our dear hero from the evil clutches of our dire Potions Master. However, Harry takes Snape's incriminations to heart because he is 100% sure his father was not like that even though he will later have to admit that he was to a certain degree. Maybe not as bad as Snape makes him to be, but still a big head enough to try to do the cool guy act and torture Snape.  

What's more, just by retaliating that his father didn't strut, Harry doesn't leave any space for what's coming up in book5, hence, his utter deception in his father.  But that's not an issue now because only Snape knows.  If you take Snape's knowledgeable part though, you will easily understand why he finds Potter arrogant: he speaks without knowing.  He even requests Snape to lower his wand!  Oh!! Bad Harry!!  

And what Snape's to do with such a request?  Turn it to his advantage of course.  He follows Potter's request but only so that he can take a closer look at what he has in his pockets.  I believe no other reasons in the world would have forced him to lower his wand if not for that.  That's why he immediately asks Potter to turn out his pockets.  He must have seen Harry with the map and he must know that the only place he could have placed it was his pockets.  When Harry doesn't do it, he repeats himself in a more menacing and cutting tone.  Oh!! Almost makes you shiver! Just like "Page 394!"  I like Snape when he does that.  It's like saying: "Just do as I say, I'm the one in charge here".

Then Snape takes a closer look at the map, but cannot understand what it is.  He asks Potter who says it's an old bit of parchment.  Come on!!  Snape is not going to be put off with such a petty excuse!  A Hufflepuff maybe, but not a Slytherin! In that scene, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife! Without Harry doing anything, Snape takes the lead: he sees nothing on the paper, but surely it must be hiding something or else, Potter would not be wandering off with it in the middle of the night!  Doesn't take a spy to understand that. Or does it? Anyhow, Snape says: "Reveal your secrets" and of course, the insulting text appears.  

What follows is a little bit of an overreaction from Snape however. He definitely looks like the parchment is going to hex him.  His expression is so caucious, as if really expecting something really bad coming off the parchment.  I believe his spy days have rendered him nervous of such "artefact" because that's just what he thought it was.  On the other hand, it might be easier than we think to come across a Dark object and not recognise it since Ginny was left with her Dark Journal a whole year!  And since Harry always seems to fall into uncommon situations, I can understand why Snape is so weary of that parchment.

When Harry reads the rest of the letter requesting Snape to keep his large nose out of other people's business, you can imagine why he reacts the way he does! Ouch!! That's gotta hurt!!  How did it know he had a large nose and was affected by it, Snape imputes it on Dark Magic.  I believe he does because he can't understand the fact that it insulted him right where it hurts the most!  We are therefore left with quite a big evidence that Snape's nose is somewhat a... delicate subject to him. When Lupin arrives, you see how Snape tends the net by talking about moonlight. But Lupin doesn't raise to the bite!  I'm sure that he was pretty much interested in how Harry got hold of the map instead!  But then, Snape accelerates the process by swiftly stealing the map from Potter's hands... to hand it to Lupin.  Why?  As I reckoned in my book3 analysis, Snape may actually be trying to set yet another sarcastic comment on his "Dark Arts" expert skills.  However, Lupin bested Severus at this one and got hold of the map for further analysis, as he put it, which was only a way to get Harry out of there as fast as possible.  But just before that of course, when Snape suggests that it's full of Dark Magic, Remus laughs and goes out with the idea that this is a Zonko product designed to insult anyone who tries to read it. At which point Snape turns a deadly stare to Harry. Nice touch.  And of course, when Snape tries to reach for the map again, Remus keeps it out of his reach and slyly backfires Severus' words against him saying that "as an expert" he should investigate more.  Ah!  Poor Snape!  Caught at his own game by a Griffindor!  

Nevertheless, I thought that Severus looked way too "obedient" in this scene from the moment Lupin entered the scene. He still tries to impress his impressions on Harry by turning his wand towards him when Lupin asks Harry to come with him, but it's strange somehow. I can't say exactly why though.  Snape is sending a message: "I am not leaving you unattended, Potter" or "Beware, my wand is set on you!"

I liked the finishing touch where Snape doesn't leave his two "preys" out of his sight until they're off.  He's still thinking isn't he?  But then, the portrait on the wall interrupts his thoughts by insulting him!  ""Are you deft? Put that light out!" Ah!  Funny!  Especially the sneer and annoyed expression on Snape's face!  He looked like he was going to hex the portrait into oblivion, but I guess they can't do that. Then he turned around, and only then did he extinguish (again with wordless magic) his wand.  Not in front of the portrait, after he left!  Wouldn't want to show some weakness to a mere portrait now would we?!

 

The Shrieking Shack

 The most emotional Snape-scene of the  movie of course.

First of all, I have to warn any unaware person that this scene is waaaaayyyy different from the book!  Well, the main action is, but the reasons and the consequences are all different.  Hence, Snape's reasons for loathing and rushing on Sirius are pretty much unknown.

First, we see Sirius (a little bit out of his mind) calling up to Pettigrew when suddenly, Snape gets to the doorframe, and in a second, realises what's happening, and dashes forward with an Expelliarmus.

Then Snape's almost "aroused" in his tone: "Vengeance is sweet!"  "I had hopes I'd be the one to catch you..."  (Lupin) - Severus... (he interrupts)  -Then Snape points his wand on Lupin and says: "I told Dumbledore that you'd helped an old friend into the castle. And now...there's the proof. " (Thanks to my friend for helping me because I had problems with Sirius' accent) :  -(Sirius) Brilliant, Snape! ; once again you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the task and as usual come to the wrong conclusion." Snape gives him a deadly stare!  Narrowed eyes and all.

Alright, let's analyse this part!  In the book, Snape had been listening for a while before springing up on his prey while in the movie, he just bounced into action.  He's well trained I believe for he was swift! I can easily imagine the utter joy and reward it must be to find both Sirius and Lupin together.  Proves all of his theories in one shot.  Ah! Dumbledore will have to make amends, he thinks.  But what's even more delicious and sweet to Severus' heart is the idea of being the one able to catch his worst personal enemy.  Is it only for what he used to do to Severus back in school, is it for having betrayed the Potters or a combination of both doubled with the Shrieking Shack incident back when Severus was but a mere student... we don't know. However, one thing is for sure: Snape hates Sirius with a passion. He loathes the man so much he seems ready to give up breathing if it means he has to breath in the same air.  Alan Rickman was incredible in depicting these horrible long-dormant feelings in Snape.  The rage, the loathing, the arousal of being able to finally be able to get back at him for all he did... Great!  

Of course, there's Sirius there too. And he doesn't seem too displeased or in such a bad state of mind to be able to throw a bit of insults at Snape.  Just like old times, that's how it looks to me. Why? Because Sirius hits a point right in one shot.  He knows what bothers Snape most than anything else, and it's being made a fool off. Sirius must really have done a good job while at school for in that particular sentence he throws back at Snape, he reveals too much about him.  He's insulting Snape, enraging him, but for what purpose?  Sirius has the proof of his innocence so why enrage Snape who seems to believe, with good cause, that he caught two renegades?  Why?!  I think because those two cannot refrain from insulting each other, from hating each other.  But I want to make one thing very clear here: it is Sirius who first "attacks" Snape, not the other way around.  He's the first to throw an insult, he's advancing on Snape while conceding that he possess a keen and penetrating mind, but at the same time he accuses him of not being able to come to the right conclusions!  Snape has always been affected by people who tried to best him with their brains, their wit.  Each and every person in the series who dared to speak ill of his mental qualities or of what he knew were victims of Snape's wrath.  However, Sirius doesn't seem impressed nor scared by Snape like normal people are in the books.  Why so?  I would say because Sirius always had the upper hand back at school.  He was the bully and Snape the bullied who's first reaction is fear and a desire to retreat.  Sirius still advances on Snape.  Snape, after the first jest of Sirius's "long-time-no-see" speech, is kind of taken aback it seems. He's just taking the insults in or something.  He's pumping up inside, all his anger while Sirius goes on (feeling suicidal maybe) and adds: "Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business (Snape's reaction) to attend to..." When Snape reacted, Sirius has advanced so much he would be able to cease Snape's wand. Strange isn't it?  As if Snape would let any enemy get this close if he were in full control!  Snape is beyond repressed emotions, rage, injustice and all those rotten sides of him pulled up together.  Sirius looks like he always had the "touch" with Snape, in belittling him.

But believe me, he backed up right away when Snape grinded his teeth and pushed his wand forwards onto Sirius' throat. He held it much tighter then. Snape was further infuriated by what Sirius had just said but not enough to do anything foolish, yet.

Snape - "Give me a reason.  I BEG you!"    See what I just said!  Not yet!  But it's coming, don't you worry! The way he utters that "beg you" gets you right there in your gut!  It's poignant! You can almost see pain irradiating from Snape's persona for we must understand that in his eyes, this guy made his school life a hell, tried to kill him with the werewolf incident, then betrayed his best friends and caused a lot of mayhem around the Potters, and once more 12 years after.  So why would Snape not be in such a state?  He's on the verge of wanting to hex him into oblivion.  Hence, knowing Lupin's more "delicate" amiable side, he says:

Lupin - "Severus, don't be a fool" (still sheepish!)

Sirius - He can't help it. It's habit by now.
Oh! By chance Remus intervened in this one because Sirius would have worsen his case!  Calling Severus a fool is just what he hates the most!  He cannot support others thinking it so.  No wonder he hates him!

Lupin - Sirius, be quiet

Sirius - "Go bite yourself, Remus!"
 The "go bite yourself" part is quite revealing is it not?! Isn't Sirius more respectful of his dear friend than he is with Snape?! Maybe they teased each other so often, that I concede. But he has got this bad-ass attitude. He insults people without caring much if they are friends or foes! To me, it clearly explains his behavior and it is no less than what I expected. The kind of person who insults when they are not concerned or happy. Which is my point exactly: Why is Snape considered worst in that respect?!   He's so arrogant, too, saying "He can't help it. It's habit by now".  I mean, he's been in Azkaban for 12 years and he shows his own habits, too!!  The habit of insulting and belittling! It also shows what I thought of Remus: he kept himself silent because Sirius never allowed his advice to come across his own needs and desires.

Snape - "Listen to you two, quarrelling like an old married couple"

Sirius - (feeling even more suicidal) "Why don't you run along and play with your Chemistry (Snape's reaction) set"  Snape reacted when he recognised the word "play" and "Chemis".... He was enraged I tell you!!!

Parenthesis: Wait, wait, wait!  How come Sirius knows that Snape's the Potions Master here?!  In the book, Lupin told him before this scene, but in the movie, he shouldn't know.  So, it's a kind of "mistake" or they taught we would buy into the idea that Snape always "played" with his Chemistry set when he was young or he was able to learn that Snape was the Potions Master while he was hiding within Hogwarts. BUT, it's a little bit too emotional a moment for Sirius to come up with new information and insult Snape with it. Hence, the authors, I reckon, imagined that Snape used to do so when he was young.  Or, it's truly simply a movie mistake. Also, why not use the word "Potions set"?  He used Chemistry instead.  I believe that this is due to the muggle public that we represent and who are not so well versed into Potions. Especially for those who didn't read the books. Unless they actually wanted to make a parallel between these two fields which would be nice, too.  But back to our fuming Snape!

When Sirius said that, I believe it took all of Snape's willpower not to throw an Unforgivable Curse on Sirius. He see the tight dead grip Snape gets on his wand while pushing it further up Sirius' throat.   He had just begged for a reason to get rid of him, and instead of backing off, Sirius pushed further down on the open wound.  This is also why I'm telling you that Sirius is the bully here.  Snape is after all there to arrest him but also to save the children, his dear Harry, his god-son, and what does Sirius have to say about it?  Go play elsewhere with your little Chemistry set!  Ouch!!  Treating Snape like a child is even worst for Sirius' bully image if you ask me.  Because that's exactly what he does: he considers Snape the equal of a child compared to him.  Which is why, I have absolutely no problem with Snape retaliating!  None at all!  I adored the way Rickman got hold of his wand just than, before he said:

Snape - "I could do it you know. (Through clenched teeth) (Taking a short deep breath, as if to calm down a bit)  But why deny the dementors? They're so longing to see you.  " (you see here in his tone that he is buying his time in order to calm down.  He's coming down to reason for being an assassin would not do well on his record, there could be questions) Also, he's back to his usual self, using the same techniques Sirius just used on him: he used Snape's worst fears against him to pin him on the spot, well let it be the same with Sirius' worst fear, the dementors. Very Slytherin indeed.

And then, for the first time since Sirius effectively insulted Snape, the latter is finally able to move forward and have Sirius back off (while raising both eye brows very high in his face, mocking he says:  "Do I detect a flicker of fear? "

Ah yes! The Dementors' kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure.  It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness but I'll do my best! (he finishes off with incredible as it sounds, even more clenched teeth!)

Lupin - "Severus, please..." (still sheepish!  Hell! We're in a life or death situation and Lupin keeps using his sheepish attitude!  But of course, I guess he knows there is no coming back with those two, right?  So, whatever he does should at least not be drastic.)

Snape - " After you" (to Sirius and Lupin) And then a nods in the direction of the Trio as if to say "Go ahead, we're getting out of here"  BUTTTTT  (Warning: if you really really like Harry Potter you are warned, he will be hurt by me!) Stupid Potter acts on his idiotic teenage hormones AGAIN and ruins the whole day!!   Because in the meantime, he took Hermione's wand and now he directs it at Sirius, but at the last second he throws an Expelliarmus upon Snape!  Who goes crashing hardly on the opposite wall through a four-poster bed !  And leaves our dear wonderful vulnerable Trio to deal with two potentially very dangerous renegades. Because, we all have to remember that in the movie, we still have absolutely no proof that Pettigrew is indeed alive!  Potter himself is just about to say the map was lying!  Yet, Potter throws his chance at surviving to the devil in order to be able to talk it out. Why not bring a cup of tea while were at it?  No really!  And biscuits, too. I love biscuits!  Do you see the silliness of it all?  I do!  At least, in the book, Snape was as angered and furious as Sirius which clouded his judgment. Snape didn't want to listen to the kids because of his anger and he thought they had just been brainwashed.  Which would seem believable in such a situation, whatever Snape's partiality towards Sirius was. But they've really gone and done it with Harry the Hero in this scene!  Harry, the teenager whom nobody can stop!  He decides what's best using his feeble teenager brain!  Did I say teenager!  Actually, he's acting more like an egoistic child who still believes he can right wrongs anywhere anytime.  That's one thing I always hated with the Potter series: children are given way too much power and they use information to act by themselves without seeking parental aid!  It was so in all the books. Again, Potter screws up the adult who could have helped them because he "believes" Sirius might be on something there.  Why not just listen to him then?  No!  Because Harry is like that. Why do I even mention it?  Just to prove and second Snape's annoyance at the boy's cheek and child-like reasoning!  


from The Leaky Cauldron
 

The Attack of the Werewolf

 "There you are, Potter"  That's just what he says when he gets out of the Whomping Willow.  Bet you he's way angry at Harry for foolishly attacking him with an Expelliarmus when he was about to bring the whole lot of them in front of the Headmaster.  Along with the rat of course and everything would have ended well. But noooo!!  It had to be a Potter saves the day and cruel Professor Snape being a bastard.  That's one element of the story I do not appreciate in such books where Snapish characters are found.  The Phantom of the Opera, which is in my opinion the closest thing to a Snape in literature, is also that way.  Our society praises heroes, doing what's heroic instead of what's sound.  We love that in movies and books, right? But, maybe it's only me talking here, but I was always against heroes.  I always praisedt the more lonesome one, the one who actually sorted things out. True, we need a hero to act, but we also need brains.  And brains often are second best.  No wonder Snape is so disgusted by all the attention Harry gets!!  Who will talk about Snape but us after the movie is over?  Kids will say: Wow! Harry saved the day, he was really cool."  Children and lots of adults won't see the sacrifices and logical points brought up by Snape.  They will see only the dark side, the sarcasm... Well, I'm not going to reinvent the world tonight, so might as well go on:

Hence, what I truly loved about this scene is that without a second of hesitation, Snape decided that he would be the shield of those wandless children.  Not to mention that he was wandless too AND has survived a childhood trauma related to the very same werewolf.  You would think it was enough to have Snape faint right there because he must have been so frightened that night where Sirius lured him to the Shrieking Shack that he must be quite weary of werewolves. Yet, he stands his ground and protects with his life the Trio. The same Trio of which one member just threw an incredibly silly stunt!  And Severus did get caught right in the front by the werewolf.  Yet, he stood up again, shielding the kids while watching Sirius-the-dog attempt to lure the werewolf elsewhere.

Of course, then Potter had to run after Sirius-the-dog and Lupin-the-werewolf to save him.  Not that I blame him, but aren't there any better ways to avoid a massacre?!  Potters act, they don't think before.  They just jump into action.  I would pay a lot of money to learn what went through Snape's mind when Harry ran off like that!  He did try to grasp him, but he was too fast. Then he said: "Come back here, Potter".  (Yes, come back to security, let's flee and find a solution) But again, the HP books are a hero series, so he didn't stay like the others. Still, Snape protected them didn't he?  Very brave and altruist!


from The Leaky Cauldron