My vote is for the mudblood comment, hands down. Snape has been treated poorly his whole life so while being dangled must have been unpleasant and undesirable that moment of speaking in anger and embarrassment cost him Lily. I don't know if she ever had romantic feelings for him like he did for her, but she was clearly a loyal and devoted friend. She didn't agree with some of his other friends, but she was still always there for him until this moment.



I guess you're right. It didn't bother me here the first time I read the book, but once Harry sees the scene in context of Snape's feeling for Lily I had a huge WTF moment.




















Now that I think about it, I don't know that we have been treated to any direct thoughts about Draco's life being unhappy at home, though clearly we find out later. I might be remembering incorrectly, but maybe we've only seen Draco as a spoiled prince to this point and the revelations come later. It's hard to separate it for me, but if we haven't been told yet perhaps it is slightly more forgivable for Harry to have this impulse. I would be sad if he acted on it though.




I didn't forget it, so maybe that's why. If we are supposed to forget it it's a little better. I just don't know why he would risk everything like that. It's one of those times where I recognize why it has to happen in the larger context of the story, but when I read this part it feels forced that he forgets the easy way. And I don't like that he doesn't open it. I mean, I get that he doesn't want to use it and endanger Sirius, but not opening a magic present just to check it out? I don't buy it personally. I really don't read books or watch movies to try to see what is wrong with them, this area is just a stretch I find hard to ignore.