Snape and Hermione (was vampires)

[dfrankis at dial.pipex.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20349

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Lyda Clunas" <lydaclunas at x> wrote:

> 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?
<some snippage>
 
> 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

While agree with your general comments about characterisation, I 
think Hermione might keep Snape's secret secret - because of the 
prejudice issue.  I'm guessing that vampires are generally hated and 
feared by wizards - the note in FB about the centaurs is a clue.  
Hermione might then adopt a similar attitude to the one she has about 
giants and cut Snape a lot of slack (as well as realising after GOF 
that a word in the wrong place might blow a hole in Dumbledore's 
strategy).

If Snape is a vampire, then this puts his ignoring of Hermione's 
sudden tooth growth in a different light: to comment on the length of 
her teeth would be a racist remark (or possibly his anti-fang, 
sunlight protection potion has some odd side effects on his vision).

Finally, his task at the end of GOF would be to get the vampires on 
side with Dumbledore.  This could be scary if joining the wizards is 
seen as a betrayal by the 'vampiring community' at large.

David, now seiously worried that Snape might trip and fall on the 
point of his wand