Pondering a Snape thing/How Snape got the way he is

[Jinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 3785


----- Original Message -----
From: <mmarth at peoplepc.com>
To: <HPforGrownups at egroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 8:58 PM
Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: Pondering a Snape thing



> I agree that he must have suffered a severe disappointment and hurt
> in his life.  But when and what?  I think it does go WAY back.  How
> does an 11 year old know so many curses?  Who taught him?  Why has he
> always been interested in the Dark Arts?  Is it because that is the
> life he likes?  Or is he interested  because something has happened
> to him (some Dark Art thing) and he is trying to find a way out of it.
> I have to believe he lost someone close to him also.  I can think of
> so many other questions but I don't have the time right now.

I never said the disappointment was suffered at Hogwarts, did I now?  I
don't have any ideas though, other than that he had either Dursley type
parents who frowned on their son having such a strong sensitive emotional
side and tried to beat it out of him (and he turned to the Dark Arts to try
and find a way of getting back at them), or he had Malfoy-ish parents who
gave him very little love and attention, treating him as a possession or
extension of themselves.  Treated well as long as he conformed, but if he
slipped up, the threat of violence was always there, hence the need to
always hide his feelings.  In this case, it's more likely that he was
actually taught curses by his family.

This all reminds me of that thread a while back on Harry being an abused
child.  I think Snape and Draco must have been treated just as badly, if not
worse in some respects.  At least Harry has always known that the D's aren't
his real parents, and has never felt love for them.  But imagine if it's
your mum and dad doing that to you...

Dudley too could be considered abused - seeing Harry treated that badly must
make him wonder subconciously if one day it'll be his turn.

Jinx