“You are a braver man by far than Igor Karkaroff. You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon….”
He walked away, leaving Snape looking stricken….
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Tags: bravery classification compliments courage coward cowardice fleeing hiding honors running shocks sorting surprises
As the Head of Slytherin House and a Death Eater spy for the Order of the Phoenix, Snape's personal identity is thoroughly wrapped up in being the personification of Slytherin cunning. He is not accustomed to thinking of himself as brave, especially given his history of clashing with Gryffindors. Nonetheless, it is clear that Dumbledore intends this as a compliment, and it seems from his eventual deep offense at being called a coward by Harry Potter (HBP28), that he took it to heart.
--AK