Snape and maturity (was: Re: Sirius and Snape thoughts)

[*Lilith Morgana*]

No: HPFGUIDX 20939

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Vicky Ra" <andromache815 at h...> wrote:
> Lilith: James only did what anyone with a decent brain would have 
done-
> (sorry, I don't count him braver than average...)
> 
> Yay! Another person who agrees with me. :)

And besides, James would be expelled in a second if he and his gang 
killed a fellow student...

> 
> Lilith: Dumbledore forgave Snape for being a Death Eater, made him 
a spy and
> gave him a job at Hogwarts (in a time when I *do* believe that the
> name Severus Snape wasn't associated with anything positive in the
> wizarding world)- just imagine what a debt for Snape to pay back!
> 
> But just how common was the knowledge of Snape's spy status? I got 
the
> impression that Snape's trial wasn't widely known. Heck, Fudge saw 
the dark
> mark on him, and thought Snape was joking or something. Makes me 
wonder if
> Fudge even knew about his former Death Eater status. And I doubt 
parents
> would be comfortable with the knowledge of an ex-Death Eater around 
their
> children.
>
I'm not sure about this. When Karkaroff mentioned Snape's name during 
his own trial, a lot of people must have known. 

"Not one of the witches and wizards in the room (and there were at 
least two hundred of them) was looking at him."
GoF Ch. 30.- The Pensieve.

Fudge must have known that Snape was a DE, something that important 
cannot have slipped out of his brain! Which leads me to wonder what 
Dumbledore might have done to make "at least 200" witches and wizards 
to trust Snape to teach their kids. Maybe something happened during 
the years that followed?

> Lilith: I imagine him being pretty grateful of course, but also, 
and more
> importantly- angry with Albus for doing what he did. "Damn you for
> making me owe you all this, Albus Dumbledore!"
> 
> Well, this would be true, on the premise that he hates Dumbledore. 
However,
> I think he loves him, and I think Dumbledore loves Snape and has a 
special
> place in his heart for him. Only he had the nerve to betray Voldie, 
and that
> certainly would have gotten Dumbledore's respect. So I must 
disagree here.

Love doesn't exclude other feelings. And I don't think that Snape is 
entirely satisfied with owing something to anyone, let it be 
Dumbledore or someone else.

 
> Magda: Eventually he will come around but after a maturation 
process that
> will be long and tortuous.
> 
> What maturation process? He's petty and malicious, but he's on the 
right
> side.

Found this note on the psychological type called Feral Child. Not 
completely true in Snape's case, but just look at it. A lot of it is 
him all over!

"The Feral Child: This person has overcome adversity her or his whole 
life, but has never descended into victim status. He or she is proud 
of not owing anything to anyone. A keen eye for human character flaws 
allows this person to prey on the weak and not trust the schemers. 
Actually, the Feral Child trusts no one. Being surrounded by schemers 
and backstabbers sharpens their belief that humanity is out to get 
them. The Feral Child was so injured early in life that they remain 
emotionally young. They've lived the life of Survivor forever, so the 
game is just an extension of their day-to-day existence."

Though, I believe that Snape trusts Dumbledore, more or less. And I'm 
completely convinced that he *will* suffer greatly when he dies. Yes, 
Harry will misinterpret as usual and see the fury I'm sure poor 
Severus will possess as the usual nastiness instead of pure sorrow. 

 
> 
> Vicky

Lilith