At the end of *Philosopher's Stone*, Dumbledore tells Harry that Snape was trying so hard to protect Harry because James once saved Snape's life. He could have said the complete truth, something like: > Snape hates you because you look like your father, who was a bully > who, together with Black, made Snape's life impossible and once almost killed him. However, Snape will do anything > to protect you because he loved your mother. Or, if that was supposed to be a secret, he could have said a white lie, only telling part of the truth: > Snape and your father didn't get along very well. But there is no way he > would let any student die, if he can avoid it. But why did he tell that lie?