You guys are SO RIGHT about the horcrux - I forgot someone had to die to create one. All the more reason for me to get my hot cup of tea and start reading HBP again next week.
As for Snape hating Harry, his mother's eyes or not, he looks just like his father and that HAS to rub Snape the wrong way. Lily will never be his and the face of his rival is always there to remind him of that fact. Still, he's never physically hurt Lily's son right?
{I love these brief escapes from reality to indulge in a world of our imagination... it sure beats the boob-tube}.
Anyway, whats killing me is that all the other books are back on my shelf in the US except for HBP and GOB (unabridged on tape) - guess I'll be toting some more books back here after Xmas... of course its cold and dark over here so I'll have plenty of time to read until the sunlight reappears.
Where are you when it's so cold and dark? Reminds me of Moscow where Summer seemed to be about 3 weeks along, then right back into Fall, which was loooooooooooooong and followed by Winter which was also too long.
Do you have access to artificial light in the form of Sunboxes? When I visited my brother in Moscow, while he was in the USN, he could check them out from the State Dept. like a book! I needed one, as I "sink" really fast without sunlight.
Sam's, on ocasion, but without any regularity, frequently has the paperback version of the previous books, for $5.38.
If I found them, bought them, and mailed them to you, (to be reimbursed, of course) would that help tide you over until you can get your hands on your own copies, at Christmas? I know what it's like to be away from one's own stash of books.
Let me know if I can help?
His father's looks and his mother's eyes are the combination that must drive Snape nuts -- seeing a reminder of Lily in what is essentially James' face has got to eat him up inside.
Also, a bad attitude toward Harry is good for his cover.
As far as hurting Harry, Snape has always tried to teach and protect him, even on his way "out the door", so to speak. The ability to control his emotions and use non-verbal spells will be crucial for Harry to succeed.