Snape -- Why so many fans?

[Lyda Clunas]

No: HPFGUIDX 25594

Laura wrote:

> My biggest surprise as a newbie has been all the adoration for 
> Snape.  I've read a LOT of posts about him on this board and 
> SNAPEFANS, and I haven't gotten a good feeling about why people 
> would be nuts about him the way others are about Lupin or Black.
> 
> My recollections of Snape are pretty negative...

OK. As a self-professed and obvious Snapefan, I'm going to put 
forward my humble opinion on the subject, which, of course, is my 
favorite subjectmout of all the HP realm-- Snape.

Sure, we get a rather negative impression of Snape throughout the 
books, bolstered only by the few revelations about his character-- 
that he tried to save Harry, that he revoked the Death Eaters for 
Dumbledore. The rest of the time, he's mainly his sarcastic, sneering 
self.

True.

BUT, JKR herself mentions that one of the themes of her books is that 
prejudice and quick judgements are made in any society, even one that 
is magical; and that people should look past the surface. Thus, we 
see how Harry is deceived by such people as Fake!Moody, and Professor 
Quirrell, who appear to be good but are truly evil. Similarly, there 
is strong evidence that Harry is likewise deceived by Snape in 
thinking that he is evil when he is really on Dumbledore's side.

There is, to the Snapefan, a fair bit of evidence that Snape actually 
is a more emotional and passionate individual than he first appears. 
The Shrieking Shack scene, although not one of Snape's best moments, 
ephasizes that there is certainly more to him than meets the eye. His 
reactions in the Shack indicate an overwhelming capacity for strong 
emotion, although in this case, they are rather negative emotions, 
like anger and desire for vengeance. However, you've also got to take 
into account the fact that Snape really *did* believe that he was 
saving HH&R from a murderer; evidence that he does have the students 
at heart, even though he may appear to hate them. 

There are several other scenes, most of them very small, that 
indicate toward a decent Snape. He strongly grips the back of chair 
in CoS when he discovers that Ginny is kidnapped. He attempts to 
thwart Quirrel's Stone-stealing in PS; and in GoF, he performs what 
is possibly his best action ever, and reveals his Dark Mark to Fudge; 
and action that he was not required, or called upon to do, and which 
confirms his former allegiances; yet he does this anyway in hopes 
that it may sway Fudge's opinions and beliefs.

We Snapefans are crazy about this greasy guy because he's enigmatic, 
he's a great anti-hero, but he's also a "good guy". He's a fun 
character to speculate about; dark and mysterious, but with hope for 
redemption. He proves that the goodies don't necessarily have to be 
generally kind and good-natured.

Now, if you want to see a really excellent take on Snape as he might 
be through another's eyes (rather than Harry's) I would like to refer 
you to the Darkness and Light Trilogy by R.J. Anderson. It begins 
with "The Potions Master's Apprentice", continues in "Personal Risks" 
and will be concluding in "If We Survive". You can find all three at

http://www.sugarquill.com/authors/rjanderson.html

and at http://www.fanfiction.net under author R.J. Anderson.

They're also at Schnoogle, and I *highly* recommend them. Even if you 
don't really like Snape, they are still wonderful stories with 
excellent writing and great characterization. Go on. Read.

Lyda