Does Snape like Dumbledore?

[*Lilith Morgana*]

No: HPFGUIDX 20807

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Horst or Rebecca J. Bohner" 
<bohners at p...> wrote:
> > I was just going to post a counter-question like that...Actually, 
I
> > think Snape owes Dumbledore too much to be able to like him 
entirely.
> > Respect him, yes. Obey him, yes. But *like* him, I don't know.
> 
> I don't know.  From everything I've seen of Snape's interactions 
with
> Dumbledore, he's not merely warily deferential or coldly 
respectful, he
> really seems to care very much what Dumbledore thinks, and be almost
> pathetically eager for his understanding and approval.  I wouldn't 
say that
> Snape likes Dumbledore -- I'd say that he loves* him.

Maybe he does. But that doesn't exclude the possibility of feeling a 
mixed and weird collection of emotion towards him. Including a 
frustration and also some hatred. No emotion is entirely pure, 
there's always something deeper to it, and I *do* think that Snape is 
extremely fond of Albus Dumbledore, but like I said- he owes him a 
great deal. 

> 
> There doesn't seem to be any resentment in Snape's behaviour toward
> Dumbledore, and although I agree with you that Snape owes D. a huge 
debt, it
> doesn't seem to weigh on him the way that his debt to James did.  
Unless you
> have some examples in mind from canon that would indicate Snape's 
view of
> Dumbledore is tinged with bitterness -- I personally can't think of 
any.

I don't have any either. It's just a feeling. 

> 
> I've said before and I'll say it again:  when Dumbledore goes (as I 
believe
> he will, and soon -- my money's on the end of Book 5), I don't 
think anyone
> will grieve for him more deeply than Severus Snape.  But being 
Snape, he'll
> never let us see that grief, either.  He'll suffer in silence, and 
he'll
> suffer alone.

Yes, Severus will suffer when Dumbledore goes (agree with you about 
book 5 but feel the need to guarantee with a little money on book 6 
as well) because they are close. No one knows Snape better than 
Albus, I'm sure, and the deep grief would be completely mutual if 
anyone of them dies. Still, I have my belief that Snape is a tad 
bothered by his debt, unless of course (this is something I've had in 
mind for a long time) Dumbledore could diminish this feeling in some 
way. Maybe Snape isn't the only one to be indebted? Maybe Albus 
somehow, sometime, managed to put himself in debt to Snape too. And 
this would in that case explain their relationship a lot better. 
Gee, I don't know. 


> 
> Taking out a handkerchief and blowing my nose very loudly,
> --
> Rebecca J. Bohner
> rebeccaj at p...
> http://home.golden.net/~rebeccaj
> 
> *No, not in a slashy way.  In a fatherly-mentorly way.  Sheesh.

Lilith
who finds slash between Snape/Dumbledore slightly amusing.