Very interesting comment! You're right - I went back and looked at my copy of SS/PS, and Harry and Ron do react *before* Snape addresses either of them directly. The initial hostility does seem to come from Harry, and Snape is actually the one reacting to it - at least, to a degree. I hadn't noticed that before; thanks for pointing it out.

That said, I still have a hard time getting my head around the way Snape treats Neville. I *understand* it; indeed, I can imagine a couple of valid reasons for it, but it's still counterproductive and cruel, IMHO.

But I am convinced that Snape's a good guy, anyway, in spite of his flaws. As you say, "nice" and "good" are not the same thing.