Snape, was Re: Class origins

[Heather Moore]

No: HPFGUIDX 29435

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Joywitch M. Curmudgeon" <joym999 at a...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Heather Moore" <heathernmoore at y...> wrote:
> >   Snape == I have no solid basis for this, but I keep getting the 
> impression that there is some sort of "ethnic" issue in Snape's 
> background. [snip] I'm thinking there's something about Snape's 
> background which Dumbledore thoroughly understands, and causes 
> Dumbledore to give Snape the benefit of the doubt *despite* Snape's 
> questionable behavior.
> 
> YES!  YES!  There is something sort of "ethnic" about Snape.  It's 
> the wizarding version of "ethnic."  He's a vampire I tell you!  A 
> vampire!!!  He swoops like a bat...allright, allright, I won't 
> regurgitate all those arguments yet another time.  But I just HAD to 
> point out that Heather's impressions fit right into the vampire 
> theory.
> 
> --Joywitch, founder and possibly sole member of S.U.A.V.E. (Snape's 
> Unquestionably A Vampire Evil)

  Have we had a solid exposition of vampirism in the Potterverse? We know that they are known to congregate in the Black Forest (everyone readily accepts the allegation that Quirrell had some bad experiences with them there). 

We are also led to believe that they may possibly field a Quidditch team, although the "Transylvanian" team may just use vampires as their campy mascot (a la the Veelas and Leprechauns).

 Do we know whether vampirism is an acquired condition as is lycanthropy, or whether it is an ethnic trait, as is giantism and bird-headedness?  

If Snape *is* a vampire, it would mean that in Potter's world, vamps are not allergic to sunlight. It's an intriguing *idea,* but I'd need a lot more convincing before I can ascribe to it.