[HPforGrownups] Raven or vampire?

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 15169

Sarah Waggott wrote:

> I do however like the idea that he is an animagus and turns into a
> raven. While looking up a crossword clue the other day, I came across
> an article in the encyclopedia about ravens and found a few
> similarities to the Potions Master. Probably no more trustworthy than
> the evidence for him being a vampire, but see what you think.
>
>   1. Both have black beady eyes.

Well, actually, isn't it McGonagall who has been described, at least
once, as looking at someone "beadily"? Snape's eyes have glinted, but I
don't think they've been called "beady" anywhere. You can have black
eyes without having beady eyes. [apologies if I'm wrong and canon says
"beady" anywhere, but Snape fan that I am, I think I'd remember the
instance, since I would think it didn't fit him well.]

>   2. Snape has a long hooked nose, ravens have heavy hooked bills.

So does every bird of prey on the planet. So do lots of Italians, racial
Jews (from the genetic stock, didn't know how to say that), more than a
few Poles I know, etc., etc. I don't know that this correlation is
terribly significant.

>   3. Ravens are entirely black, as I mentioned before Snape dresses in
> black (though this could still be nothing more than personal choice).

Insert some variety of response to #2 here. Hooked noses and black color
just don't seem distinctive enough to be clear correlations. I think his
appearance and choice of clothing, like the adjectives selected to
describe him, are the way they are for atmosphere, for saying something
about his personality, rather than clues as to other forms.

>   4. Ravens eat carrion (dead flesh), Snape was a death eater. (Yes
> this link is *very* weak, but still a possibility. A slim one).

No slimmer than 2 and 3. But I do respect your ability to balance out
there on that skinny little limb...   :::grins and waves from the
Snape/Lily branch:::

> Snape being a raven would fit in with the fact he manages to travel
> very quickly to some places as he could fly there.

What instances are you speaking of? I don't recall any time that Snape
appears anywhere that he couldn't have gotten there in his own form (but
it *is* late and I'm tired...).

> It could also be a possible explanation for his appearances at crucial
> moments with Dumbledore and McGonagall ~ Animagi are rare (I think) so
> two in the school would be likely to stay close to each other and the
> headteacher.

More likely that, at critical times, as a trusted lieutenant of
Dumbledore's, he's *already* with him or in immediate contact.

> It could also be a factor in Snape's hatred of the Marauders. If
> becoming an Animagus is hard work, I would imagine it would be nice to
> feel part of a very select group. Imagine the shock when it turns out
> that not only have others in the school completed the training, they
> just happen to be your worst enemies, the ones you like to feel
> superior to.

But Snape didn't know they were animagi. Nobody did. Or else, when
Sirius escaped from Azkaban, Snape would have told Dumbledore (if he
hadn't already). Snape, all through PoA, sincerely believes that Black
really did the crimes for which he was convicted, and just as sincerely
wants him caught. In no way would Snape have withheld this information
from Dumbledore. And Dumbledore did not know about the Marauders being
animagi until Sirius told him, just before he escaped with Buckbeak.

Also, if Snape knew their animagus forms, would he not have recognized
the large black dog in the infirmary in that critical scene in GoF?
Until Sirius transforms to human form, Snape does not pay any attention
to or react to him, which I take to mean that even if he thinks it's odd
for a dog to be there, oh well. In other words, it's a dog. Not, oh,
wow, there's Sirius in dog form.

> It could also be a reason why Snape didn't push for their expulsion;

I think he did. Probably more than once. Which might have been one
reason the DeathEater crowd became interested in him.

> he may have found respect for them. Not the kind of respect Harry has
> for Dumbledore or anything, more like that nagging little voice that
> says: "Maybe they're not so bad after all..."

So far as I've seen, Snape equivocates on nothing. But I could be
wrong..

--Amanda


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