Defending Snape (was Neville: was re: Authority and rule-breaking)

[Lyda Clunas]

No: HPFGUIDX 16917

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., pbnesbit at m... wrote:
>>I have a feeling that his demeanour hides a great deal of passion--
and a great deal of hurt somewhere in his past (and not just his DE  
past).  People who have been hurt or disappointed by people tend to  
put up walls so that it won't happen again.<<  

Yes, yes, yes. Hehehe, I don't think that Snape is wrapped up in 
himself, really, either; I think he IS wrapped up in the authority-
figure business, but that is because he has that obsession with rules 
and order. I have a feeling that Severus, while he is no doubt very 
proud of his talents and accomplishments in some aspects, really has 
a low opinion of himself or his actions in other aspects. I think he 
conceals this part of his personality, and keeps the self-disgust and 
self-guilt to himself. Plus he puts up the walls so that he won't be 
hurt again, but also so that *he* won't do anything to really hurt 
others again. I don't mean the saracasm and insult business that he 
has right now; I mean deep hurt that comes from being betrayed by a 
loved one. I have a feeling that he has caused (and been the 
recipient of) this kind of hurt before, and has no desire to go 
through it again.

Lyda