Dobby's magic and Neville vs. Snape

[opaldragonfly at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23070

Just a couple of thoughts.  The House Elves (Dolmovoi, or something 
like that, in Russian folklore) are imbued with "deep magic"--as are 
dragons, unicorns, etc.  They predate "modern" wizards and witches.  
As evidence of this, we need not look to all the "tricks" Dobby plays 
to try to keep Harry from going back to Hogwarts, but to the BLAST he 
gives Lucius Malfoy at the end of COS.  Malfoy does not retaliate 
(although he wants to) and that should be clue enough that he knows 
even he would be no match for Dobby's magic used in "righteous anger."
    Perhaps the animosity that Severus Snape shows Neville has 
nothing to do with Neville.  It is possible that Prof. Snape had 
encountered Neville's grandmother (for example)in a previous setting--
perhaps when he was a student at Hogwarts.  Could she have been an 
instructor there?  Or, perhaps she almost exposed Snape through her 
own powers of investigation--not realizing he was a spy, etc.  I 
propose this theory because of the motivation of Prof. Snape's 
dislike of Harry--Snape's interaction with Harry's father and 
friends.  JKR likes to give us hints to behavioral patterns of the 
characters and if the pattern is to be established in Snape's case, 
it would make sense to have an older relative of Neville do something 
to Severus when he was less powerful/important and now is his chance 
for retribution.
    I will be on vacation for two weeks, but may the heavens keep you 
all well!  Opal Dragonfly