Yes, I wonder if that was a natural defense for Snape--or if he just went in with the same blinders people always have for their enemies. Sort of like how when Harry sees Draco taunted by Lucius he thinks it's funny, but if he saw Ron spoken to that way he'd probably be angry. Snape may just have this idea in his head that Harry is just like James so he really is able to get pleasure out of seeing him humiliated.

But still yeah, there's just no way doing this with Snape could have turned out well. It's the more realistic version of all those fanfics where Harry and Snape have to have sex to help the cause. They don't like it.