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teacher at Hogwarts he treated him in an entirely unjustified manner and made no efforts to be friendly with him.

Putting aside the more obvious reasons why Harry should consider Snape an enemy, there is an even more important reason; because Dumbledore's plan depending on his believing it to be true. Dumbledore knew that once he was no longer there to protect them, both the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts would fall to the Deatheaters. He needed to ensure there was someone in the school to protect the students. For Snape to be entrusted with the position of headmaster at Voldemort's Hogwarts he could not be seen to be a friend to Harry Potter, no matter how much he supported Harry's cause. Just as he was able to disguise his most notorious crime, the killing of Albus Dumbledore, as murder when it was actually an act of mercy, he was careful not to openly help the heroes in any way. In fact, when he did provide Harry with Gryffindor's Sword, an item critical to Harry's quest, he did so in secret. On Dumbledore's orders Snape presented himself to the wizarding world as an enemy of Harry Potter and for their plot to be effective Harry had to believe as much himself.

When all was revealed at the end of The Deathly Hallows we find Serverus Snape was a friend to Harry all along, but Harry could never have considered him as such. For Harry to have succeeded in his education at Hogwarts and for the side of good to triumph over evil it was necessary that Harry always assume that Snape was his foe and not to be trusted.

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