go minerva! despite his performance, i doubt that dumbles truely realizes or appreciates what he has done. i think he's appearing to give in now but has plans to get harry back under his control by making him think that he has seen the error of his ways. i hope that minerva sticks to her guns about snape and her desire to stick up for harry. im hoping that dumbles' faith in snape will be thrown in his face evil smirk read ya later!
Author's response
I think Minerva had a bit of a wakeup call after Harry's rant.
As to why she was more prepared to listen to him then when not earlier, I'm betting it was because she was more sympathetic to him after he had just lost Sirius - she can't have overlooked his moping in the days following the DoM.
Then after hearing what he had to say, she realised that she'd placed her faith (and her thinking for herself) completely in Dumbledore's hands, and decided to check things out for herself.
I'm hoping Snape's chickens come home to roost as well. I mean really, what adult should be able to get away with what he's been doing in that potions class for years?