Sympathetic Slytherins, Snape (was Howdy; ponderings)

[Amy]

No: HPFGUIDX 9717

Marvin wrote:

>* I wish JKR would offer us some sympathetic characters from 
>Slytherin
>House.  The one-note nastines of Malfoy and company is getting old 
>and
>unconvincing.  I've known ambitious rule-benders who were not 
>wantonly
>cruel, and it would only make sense for somebody in Slytherin to be
>sufficiently concerned about his/her reputation to try to stop Malfoy 
>etal. from giving the rest a bad name.

"Hi, Marvin!  My name is Amy and I'm a Harry Potter addict."

I agree that Slytherin needs a little more variety.  I'm particularly 
uncomfortable with the Crabbe-Goyle-Malfoy hereditary nastiness.  I 
have high hopes for Draco.  We have a lot of thoughts on this list as 
to why he's become the nasty little bigoted bully that he is (hint: 
it's Lucius's fault for not taking Dr. Spock to heart), and I for one 
think that JKR doesn't like to go too far with the evil- or 
good-by-birth idea (as you'll know if you've read my Who is Harry 
Potter? post). 

Not that I think Draco will ever turn into a sweet, kindly guy.  But I 
think as the characters are forced to choose as the battle lines are 
drawn, we're going to see people we trusted go over to V and people 
who've been trained all their lives to be Death Eaters bravely joining 
our heroes.  It should be excruciating and interesting.  DM is a good 
candidate for one who, like Snape, painfully chooses the side of good 
while remaining a thoroughly unpleasant person.

As for other children-of-the-damned,* we know there's a Nott in 
Harry's year but we don't know what house he/she got put in.  He/she 
could defy blood and be a goodie in 5-6-7.

I'd venture to guess that one of the reasons Snape is so fascinating 
to so many of us is that he is the most interesting mix of good and 
bad tendencies.  Sirius is similarly compelling, IMO (a comparison 
that would make them both turn green).  I like your summary of Snape's 
character very much.

And finally, I agree that we need a 12-step program.  Wednesday and 
Friday nights, non-smoking, please.

Amy Z

*Good example, actually, as "Children of the Damned" asserts that the 
descendants of the evil children in Village of the Damned are in fact 
good.  At least I think that's what happens.