Snape as vampire

[Lyda Clunas]

No: HPFGUIDX 20341

Yes, well, I'm a little late to the party, but here's my two cents 
anyway.

Koinonia wrote:

>> When Snape took over the class, they were studying what I consider 
to be *lesser* creatures.  I would imagine when the class got to  
werewolves and vampires they were finally getting to the *big* guys. 
After all, werewolves were at the very back of the book.  Was the  
class moving at such a fast pace that they finally made it to  
vampires? They might have studied vampires to a lesser degree  
previously, however I would think it would take many lessons on how  
to deal with vampires.  Plus I don't believe Lupin included any  
vampire stuff in that test he gave the class.  It was *tit for tat*.<<

About that Vampire essay... alright, I'm pretty sure the general 
theory that you Vampire-Snapefans have is that when Lupin rescues 
Harry from Snape's evil clutches after the Hogsmeade incident Lupin 
said his little line about the "Vampire essay" simply to get back at 
Snape for the little werewolf essay stunt. That they weren't 
necessarily studying it in class (at least, not in much depth) and it 
was just a kind of reserved warning or something of Lupin's.

However... forget not that it couldn't have been just a simple 
warning of Lupin's, as Neville makes it obviously clear that the 
assigned essay was real. Page 276, PoA, American version: 

"Er-- not now-- I was going to the library and do that vampire essay 
for Lupin--"

"I'll come with you!" Neville said brightly. "I haven't done it 
either!"

So, the essay *was* really assigned. Which brings me to my next 
conclusion: If Hermione, who puts an insane amount effort into her 
homework, can figure out the truth about Lupin's lycanthropy from 
doing Snape's essay, then wouldn't she also be able to understand the 
truth about Snape's "Vampirism" from Lupin's essay?

Now, I know you guys will contadict me with the usual excuses ("It's 
a potion he uses to conceal his symptoms!" and so on...) BUT, Lupin 
has a potion too, and it does not conceal all of his symptoms. I have 
my doubts that there is a cure-all potion for the symptoms of 
Vampirism (that greasy hair is not a side-effect, sorry) and 
therefore, it would seem to me that Hermione would be able to 
discover that Snape is not what he seems.

Now, of course, Hermione could be protecting Snape's secret, like she 
did with Lupin, but even this I have my doubts upon. I think that 
Hermione, although she has that great reverence for teachers, would 
tell Harry and Ron the truth about Snape. Perhaps not right away, but 
I would think she definitely would in GoF when they are musing over 
what Snape did with his "first chance"...

Snape is already quite the complex character. He has a bitter current 
life, he doesn't appear to venture out anywhere, he was once a spy 
and he may have resumed his double life, he has a dark past of 
alliance with Voldemort, he's got a longstanding hatred of Harry's 
father... why does JKR need to add vampirism to the pot? I mean, 
really, how much can the poor guy deal with? I think he's got enough 
characterization to build on as is.

Lyda