Full disclosure for me as well, I want H&C to be Snape so there may be confirmation bias at work on my part. I think that the rage inducing revelation that Snape had in chapter 22 caused Snape to abandon his canon role has Harry’s protector and went back to the obvious role for him: fighting for the dark lord whom he used to serve and will soon be returning. Which means fighting against Harry.
For what its worth Harry also thinks something significant happened in that interaction:
*Just before Harry left the workroom, with his hand on the doorhandle, the boy turned back and said, “As long as we’re here, have either of you noticed anything different about Professor Snape?”
“Different?” said the Headmaster.
Minerva didn’t let her wry smile show on her face. Of course the boy was apprehensive about the ‘evil Potions Master’, since he had no way of knowing why Severus was to be trusted. It would have been odd to say the least, explaining to Harry that Severus was still in love with his mother.
“I mean, has his behavior changed recently in any way?” said Harry.
“Not that I have seen...” the Headmaster said slowly. “Why do you ask?”
Harry shook his head. “I don’t want to prejudice your own observations by saying. Just keep an eye out, maybe?”
That sent a quiver of unease through Minerva in a way that no outright accusation of Severus could have.*
Full disclosure for me as well, I want H&C to be Snape so there may be confirmation bias at work on my part. I think that the rage inducing revelation that Snape had in chapter 22 caused Snape to abandon his canon role has Harry’s protector and went back to the obvious role for him: fighting for the dark lord whom he used to serve and will soon be returning. Which means fighting against Harry.
For what its worth Harry also thinks something significant happened in that interaction:
*Just before Harry left the workroom, with his hand on the doorhandle, the boy turned back and said, “As long as we’re here, have either of you noticed anything different about Professor Snape?”
“Different?” said the Headmaster.
Minerva didn’t let her wry smile show on her face. Of course the boy was apprehensive about the ‘evil Potions Master’, since he had no way of knowing why Severus was to be trusted. It would have been odd to say the least, explaining to Harry that Severus was still in love with his mother.
“I mean, has his behavior changed recently in any way?” said Harry.
“Not that I have seen...” the Headmaster said slowly. “Why do you ask?”
Harry shook his head. “I don’t want to prejudice your own observations by saying. Just keep an eye out, maybe?”
That sent a quiver of unease through Minerva in a way that no outright accusation of Severus could have.*