I know this one is wierd but WOULD Snape like Harry anymore if he were in Slytherin? Would he treat him as he does Malfoy? or would he treat him like the rest? i cant help but wonder i mean i know it would change the whole moral of the book if he were in slytherin but
would it affect the way Snape treats Harry?

Thats an interesting question. I have thought that as well. I think that his hatrid, sort of, towards Harry and the tension between the two of them, has to do with the difficulties that Snape had with James. I believe that Snape immeadiatley thought that Harry would take on the "image" of his father (bigheaded, arrogant..etc,) and prejudged him. Eventually, other differences between the two arroused, not just prior judgements. I recall in the first year when Snape says something about having a "celebrity" in his class, you can immeadiatly tell that friction was there, but why? Most likeely because of James. I think that if he was in Slytherin that, yes, Snape would still sort of "hate" Harry because of his Dad, but I think the relashionship would be less harsh, simply because he was in Slytherin.

I had always wondered how Snape would have reacted if Harry had apologized after that first potions class when Snape thought Harry wasn't paying attention.

Maybe if he had even appealed to Snape's more sensitive side, it is there, by explaining how he knew nothing of the wizarding world until just a short while ago. If the set up for Snape and Harry being at odds with each other hadn't been there and Harry somehow exhibited more of his mother's personality, I think Snape would have acted very differently towards Harry.

Well..i thought about this for a long time. i mean, if harry were in slytherin and not griffendor obviously the whole story line would be different. but would Snape treat Harry any differently?

I think that if Harry was in Sytherin, that would mess everything up. Because if he was in Sytherin, he wouldn't be friends with Ron and Hermione, they wouldn't have all those good times, and, worst of all, if Harry was in Sytherin, he might be friends with Malfoy. *GASP*

My brother also thinks that if Harry was in Sytherin, that would mess up the 3rd movie, because then Harry wouldn't throw snowballs at Malfoy.

I seriously doubt that it would make a difference. Snapes hate toward Harry goes way beyond Harry. It extends all the way to the relationship that Snape had with Harry's father, and that is a hate that nothing can change.

I don't think that Harry being in Snape's house would change Snape's opinion of Harry at all. I mean Snape already had bad blood with HArry's father James from back in their days at Hogwarts together, so no even if Harry was in Slythrein Snape would probal;y stil treat him the same. Snape feels angry towards Harry because of the humiliation he had to endure at James' and the other Marauders hands.

Hi, I'm just moving this to the General books discussion, where it's better suited.

As for your question - nope, I don't think it would have made that much of a difference. There is a case to be made for Snape hating Gryffindors in general because of what Sirius did to him too, but I think the main reason Snape loathes Harry is because he's a Potter. If Harry was in Slytherin, Snape may have enjoyed it even more, because Harry would definitely have been expelled by now.

Your right i think he would have expelled harry in the first year but i dont think he would have taken points from him only given him alot of detention.

well yes exactly what i thought but I can't help but wonder...

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I think that Harry would have had problems with Snape anyway because of the boy's allergy for rules. Slytherins, and Snape above all, are pretty stick with their "internal" rules. Hierarchy is something to which they obey. Indeed, Slytherin is a House whose values are very strong, because its members are strong as a group; they are very...military in their attitude, no matter how much they are bashed by the other Houses.
Harry's attitude is always rebel and impulsive, even towards Dumbledore, who had to restrain him verbally more than once. This wouldn't be allowed in Slytherin and surely Snape would have punished such a student.

I think that snape's attitude towards harry would change if harry were put into slytherin. but i think that snape would still give harry some hard time only because of the tension between him and james. but overall i think that snape would be a little nicer to harry if he were put into slytherin.










*Sirius*

ViviPotter, I agree with you and your brother 100%. Also I think it would mess up the whole sieries if Harry was in Slytherin!

I think it is quite easy to forget why Snape hates harry so much. Although i dont know why, snape never ceases to remind us - it was not just because harry was a griffindor, it was mainly because harry is james' son.
So, Snape hates him because of the blood that he has, but also the characteristics that he has inevitably inherited from his father. He is arrogant, a lot of the time. He has a lot of preconceived notions, and is very stubborn about these. he hates slytherins, even though it is only one group that have been hostile towards him. He is popular, something that snape sees as a problem, not a 'gift'. He is not amazingly talented, but still sees fit to tell others what to do. Oh and of course the quiditch.

Snape hates harry becuase he reminds him of the person that tormented him for years.

If he had been put in slytherin, snape would of been able to get to him even more, as his head of house, snape would have control over what harry could and couldn't do. Snape is ultimately a cool, composed person -99% of the time. Harry isnt. He is impassioned and outright, and Snape hates this. As a Slytherin, Harry would have to endure Snapes sarcstic comments 24 hours a day, instead of the few that he spends in his lessons.

oh what i'd give to be a slytherin in hogwarts....
Clara}~

I agree with capricorn and clara because if harry had been in slytherin,he would have to spend more time with snape and he would be insulted more than he usually does. Snape hates harry because of his father james and james' friends. And if harry had been in slytherin he would have been expelled by now because snape being the head of that house.

Just want to put it out there that I also agree with Capricorn and Clara. I suspect that Harry would start to hate Hogwarts more than the Dursleys, as odd as that may sound. At the Dursleys he may have had some sort of control because of their fear of magic and they tended to leave him alone as long as someone wasn't visiting or he wasn't eating with them or something. Then, of course, it would be constant tension. However, if he were in Slytherin, he'd have to deal with that all the time. I think Draco would act somewhat the same and Harry wouldn't exactly know how to deal with it because Draco could fall back on Snape. He'd be constantly sent to detention. I think the only difference, besides his friend's and things of that sort, is that he wouldn't lose points against Slytherin house as much as he did for Gryffindor house when it came to Snape.

I as well agree that it would not have made much of a difference. I think his hatrid for Harry's father is too deep to forget. Harry is like the living image of James anyway, and he's a constant reminder to all the teasing and tormenting Snape went through at school. He would probably hate Harry just as much, and have an even easier time punishing him and trying to get him expelled.

I see something being done to change Harry's house should he have been sorted in Slytherin for multiple reasons.

What's to stop the children of past Voldemort's supporters from exacting out their revenge on Harry? I mean, many lives were destroyed because of him (in their minds eye) and once parents caught wind of who was in Slytherin...well, it probably wouldn't be pretty.

Then we have the fact that Professor Snape is a known spy. Say Harry is in Slytherin; what's to happen to Professor Snape in GoF and OotP? Voldemort is back. If he wants to really prove his loyalty he'll have to do something...kidnap him, hurt him, have him expelled, something. That would not bode well.

A few things for thought though...if Harry were sorted into Slytherin then he wouldn't have tried to rescue the stone and Voldemort might have come back earlier; he wouldn't have cared if Hermione were petrified, and it would be awesomely awesome if a Slytherin could talk in Parseltongue! Harry wouldn't have been with Ron in the flying car and he would have used a more 'cunning' way to communicate with the school.

I also think Harry would be a bit more disciplined and focused had he been sorted in Slytherin.

The only bad thing would be is my Drakie-Poo wouldn't be seeker! *pout* Harry would beat him hands down at tryouts and no amount of brooms would make a difference.

I had a lot of thoughts to this idea and I tried to touch on each of them. If I confused anyone I am so sorry...sometimes my brain runs faster than my hands.

~McK

I dont think it would matter where Harry was, Snape would still loathe him. Snape has held his grudge on Surius and James since his school days, which in turn makes him hate Harry. It wouldnt matter if Harry had been in Slytherin or not, Snape would still hate him.

I think he would treat Harry the same because of the relationship that Snape had with James. We know that they never got along, and that is one of the only reasons Snape is as snide as he is. I believe that he would take less points away, and punish harry the same if he were in his house.

I agree with all the statement about Snape projecting his hatred of his tormented years onto Harry especially with him looking so much like his father and kinship with Sirius not to mention how close he is with Lupin - it is as thought James has been reborn in Harry.

I also think that to an extent his behaviour toward Harry may also stem from the guilt and mix of emotions associated with his part in the Potters death. I know that when I feel guilty about treating Andi badly I often take it out on him further perhaps to push them away and alleviate the cornucopia of emotions involved.

Indeed this is futher emotional torment associated with Potter- guilt for the fact that his information lead to their death on top of the resentment about the bullying (both bullying and guilt are very hard to deal with and often cause the individual to become bitter with regards to the person that caused it particularly the self-loathing and doubt the typically results from bullying further worsened by such incidence occurring at home too)

Snape is by no means heartless and such guilt much lie heavily with him especially on top of the deep rooted hatred for the way he way treated such a mix of complex emotions much be hard to handle and it is unsurprising that seeing a daily-reminder in the form of a James-Potter look (and to some extent act) alike must be difficult for Snape

Futhermore having to teach the boy who defeated LV irrespective of house much be problematic to handle - given his former death eater status - thus Harry provides further constant reminders of a life he might prefer to repress (and in OotP having to return to such a lifestyle to help protect not just wizard-kind but to protect and actually help the son of James must have be torture for him)

I think that even if Harry was sorted into Slytherin that such emotional conflict is difficult to ignore and would seep out in the same manner as we have observed.

although he may find some satisfaction in James' son being sorted into the house that James was opposed to (well perhaps not thwe house but a majority of individuals within it )

I think Snape would treat Harry badly regardless of the house Harry was in....
Snape mainly treats Harry badly because James treated Snape badly, pathetic, i know!!

The question is: Would Snapes favourism of the Slytherins be overruled by Snapes Hatred for the Potters?? Which is the more powerful factor??

I don't think Snape would have liked Harry any more if he was in his house.

I think Snape would have been even more brutal to Harry if he had been a Slytherin

I see where you're coming from, tonks&lunalvr, but I actually think that if Harry were in Slytherin, Snape might have been a little nicer to him. I'm sure Snape would have still hated him, but I think he might have shed some old prejudices, thinking maybe he wasn't so much like James. I also think that Harry would have liked Snape a little more than he does, because as his Head of House, Harry would probably have some respect for him.

I always thought that in the last book of the series, Snape and Harry would make up and kind of forgive each other, so I'm pretty determined that it is, in some way, possible for Snape and Harry to like each other, no matter how unlikely.

I really don't think it would affect the way Snape treats Harry if Harry was if slytherin. Because I think Snape treats like he does out of the hatred for James and the marauders.

I don't think it would have mattered much in his personal opinion towards Harry. He hated James so much he was probably going to end up hating Harry anyway. Also if Harry turned out to be a nasty little kid like malfoy he probably would have disliked him more(I assume he would have turned out to be a nasty little kid if he went to slytherin).

I would have to say that if Harry was in Slytherine it would make no difference to Snape, he would still hate him just because he is James Potter's son. I feel that Snape's hate for Harry would always be there, just as his hate for James was always there. It would not matter to Snape what house Harry ended up in, Snape would never like him, and especially since Harry and Sirius became so very close. Snape hated Sirius, even though they were in the Order together, he sill could not stop hating Sirius, and even though James saved Snape's life, he still hated James. So, whatever house he was in did not make a difference, it was who his father was that made the dislike so intense for Snape.

First, if Harry was sorted into Slytherin, he would have been completely different Harry with different personality, such that wouldn't resemble James, but that would be a completely different story.

But if Harry did indeed land, by any miraculous chance, in Slytherin, I don't think the relationship with his Head of the House would be any different from what it is now. Because the nature of their relationship is not given that much by Harry’s house as by his behavior. But then again, the behavior goes hand in hand with the house. So, it’s a vicious circle in the end and I start to be lost in it.

Severus hates Harry, So if Harry had shown more of his mother’s personality, as some of you pointed out, I think Severus might have liked him more and treated him in a better way. And Harry needn't have been even in Slytherin for that. I actually don't think that Severus likes his students any better than he likes the rest. Generally, it seems to me that he considers nearly all the students, regardless of the house, as a bunch of dunderheads.

deatheater13, as for Harry's respect for the Head of his House I wouldn't count on that. I think it's one of Harry's traits that he does not comply with rules and authorities much and sometimes he doesn't show respect even for Dumbledore so why would he for Severus?

~Jana

no i don't think so snape hated that he looked so much like james i doubt he would care if he was in slytherin(sp)

This is an interesting question...Here are my thoughts:
I think that, something would have to change a little bit- Snape might have a tensy bit more respect for Harry, but it would probably be hidden in his scathing demeanor.
He would probably loathe Harry still- he is James' son, and this shows in the way he looks and (sometimes) acts.

I honestly don't think Snape could of ever liked Harry straight-off- there is too much ill-will between him and James to overcome.

I think Harry and Snape might have had a better relationship, probably it would have grown into liking, but only liking because Snape just couldn't get over the fact that Harry resembled James so much. On the other hand, he would be very proud given the fact that he beat James on influencing his child, and having Lily's son sorted on the house he wanted for he, just like someone before me said.

Plus, ever since the begining, Harry felt dislike coming from Snape, even the first time they saw each other, there was some dislike going on between them, and provoked by Snape (SS/PS), just after Harry had been sorted into Gryffindor, at the end of the banket:



If Harry would have been sorted into Slytherin, probably Snape wouldn't had given him that nasty first look and instead would have given him a proud or pleasant look... maybe... So they would have started off with the right foot.



So I think Snape's atittude towards Harry was very much determined by Snape's feelings towards James, but it would have been a different story if Harry would have been sorted into Slytherin because with other Slytherins's influences and Snape taking the role of a protector and Head of House, the celebration and exitement of having him wouldn't have been Gryffindor's table pride and joy, and Snape wouldn't have given him that ugly first look, and they both would have started in good terms, giving Snape and Harry the opportunity to get to know each other, and maybe Snape could have told him that he knew Lily from their childhood and develop some interest from Harry towards him and a nicer story would have become between them and totally different books for us.

Just because Harry doesn't show his respect doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Harry has some respect for all his teachers, exept for Snape. If Harry hadn't gotten the vibe that Snape didn't like him, he would haven't thought ill of him to begin with. And in Harry's first potions class, Snape takes two points away fron Gryffindor. If Harry were in Slytherin, he wouldn't have taken those points and may not have even asked him the questions int the first place, so they would have had the chance to get to know each other instead of hating each other right of the bat.

Kaitlyn, I completely agree with you.

Actually, i think Snape would've resented Harry if he was in Slytherin.
Here me out though.
In the end, we discovered Snape loved Harry becuase he was like Lily. Lily was in Gryffindor.
Plus, Snape hated that he ended up in Slytherin, without Lily. Yet another reason why I think he would have wanted Harry to be in Gryffindor!

No, he wouldn't. Snape didn't like Harry (and never would) because Harry was James' son, and James was such a jerk to Snape that it would be impossible for Severus to like Harry.
After reading book 7, I must admit that all the bad things I wrote about Snape must be forgotten. And I blame Dumbledore, who used Snape. I wish J.K. Rowling had given a better fate to Snape. In fact, he didn't deserve that ending. After HP stories finished, I think that Snape is the "unfinished" character; I mean, you can draw up a profile about him, but at the same time, it is impossible to "label" Snape as can do with the others. Well, I'd suggest J.K. Rowling to write a saga about Snape...
By the way, when is Alan Rickman starting to shoot HBP?

Yes, I think that however slight it was, Harry and Snape would have got on better if he was in Slytherin.

Remember in the Prince's Tale when he said to Lily 'You'd better be in Slytherin!' and when she was in Gryffindor with James, Severus obviously missed his best friend, but if Harry had been placed in Slytherin, I think this would have made Snape think that there was at least an ounce of Slytherin blood in Lily's veins, and that they were more alike than they though.

But I still think they would hate each other, just not as much as they had done.

~Amy <3

I agree. He is still the son of James, his bully, so why'd he like him more if he'd have been in HIS detachment? I think he'd hate him maybe even more..

I don't think he would have liked him more. It wasn't the House that was bothering him so much. But I think it made matters worse since James was in the same House and that was a clue to Snape that Harry was really a lot like his father. So I think that if Harry had been in Slytherin, Snape might have had some doubts about Harry's personality but that wouldn't change the way he would have treated him.

I am a newbie & late to the question but I think that the answer is NO.

Snapes dislike for harry has nothing to do with a House. It is that harry is the Son of the Woman he loved & the man that he hated. & when he looks at harry he is remined of the Child & life that he was denied with Lilly.

No, he did not love harry at all. harry was too much like James as far as rule breaking & stuff. But, Not picking on people like he father did. In the end snape wanted to look into harry's eyes because harry had his mothers eyes. No other reason. & the reason why he helped dumbledore was because, Tom Riddle killed Lily( no other reason). Snape wanted Revenge(sp) against him. He asked Tom no to kill lilly but, he did.

& Snaped wasn't made that he was in Slytherin at all. He was very happy about that. But sad that Lilly wasn't in Slyterin also. But, they did remain close friends for years regardless of their houses. Lilly always used to defend Snape to everyone & side with snape against Games & Siruis. All until Snape used the term mudblood. & Then he lost her forever.

No, Snaped hated harry. Make no mistake. Harry could have been his son ( in his mind) had it not been for James the Bully.

I dont think that the house Harry was sorted in made any difference to the way Snape would have felt about him. He didnt hate Harry because he was in Griffindor he seemingly hated Harry because Harry reminded him of James and as we all know Snape and James did not get along.