(Anonymous)
Personally, I do not see why a student would NOT trust a teacher in life or death circumstances, just because there is animosity between them.
I agree with this. Thing is, even if Severus planned for an antagonistic relationship between himself and Harry in order for his actions to look consistent to the DE's and their children, *Harry* still only saw a nasty teacher -- he didn't know Severus was a DE until the end of GoF. Harry had no reason to think that Severus was a DE just based on his classroom behavior.
(Although JKR does *make* things work out that way. See also: Macnair, whose job it is to kill dangerous animals. It was his job to kill Buckbeak, therefore he was a DE. But as far as *logical* reasoning goes, being unpleasant doesn't mean that someone can't be trusted in life-or-death situations.)
So in the Shrieking Shack, why *wouldn't* Severus be offended that Harry distrusts him, but is ready to trust the guy who everyone (including Harry) believed was out to kill Harry all year, and the "nice teacher" who looks to be on good terms with the (supposed) escaped mass-murdering traitor?
I don't think that Severus planned for Harry to suspect him, although he may have planned for Harry to dislike him intensely. Nor do I think that Severus' cover depended on Harry's *suspecting* him, since a good spy wouldn't want to be suspected, after all.
Lynn
I agree with this. Thing is, even if Severus planned for an antagonistic relationship between himself and Harry in order for his actions to look consistent to the DE's and their children, *Harry* still only saw a nasty teacher -- he didn't know Severus was a DE until the end of GoF. Harry had no reason to think that Severus was a DE just based on his classroom behavior.
(Although JKR does *make* things work out that way. See also: Macnair, whose job it is to kill dangerous animals. It was his job to kill Buckbeak, therefore he was a DE. But as far as *logical* reasoning goes, being unpleasant doesn't mean that someone can't be trusted in life-or-death situations.)
So in the Shrieking Shack, why *wouldn't* Severus be offended that Harry distrusts him, but is ready to trust the guy who everyone (including Harry) believed was out to kill Harry all year, and the "nice teacher" who looks to be on good terms with the (supposed) escaped mass-murdering traitor?
I don't think that Severus planned for Harry to suspect him, although he may have planned for Harry to dislike him intensely. Nor do I think that Severus' cover depended on Harry's *suspecting* him, since a good spy wouldn't want to be suspected, after all.
Lynn