SHIP: LOLLIPOPS fights on

[archgarchus]

No: HPFGUIDX 37958

Dear Captain Tabouli,

   Hurrah!! Ecstatic, thrilled, and joyful to be welcolmed onboard 
LOLLIPOPS with such celebration. I shall pass around fizzing whizbees 
and chocolate frogs to the entire crew!! Much thanks and enthusiasm.
And..we musn't let our shipmates slip off the ship in lifeboats. We 
must sail all the waters of the HP ocean full steam ahead.

   Anyways, I have always suspected the Snape/Lily/James triangle 
from the first time I read PoA. Maybe I am too big a fan of Bronte, 
but all I could think about were parallels to WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
Snape's irrational hatred of Harry HAD to come from someplace. 
Certainly such hatred would not be shown without a BIG reason (unless 
of course one is a sociopath like the Dark Lord). 

   I always have found it interesting that even though Lily was a 
close friend of the Mauraders gang, Snape never ever mentions her 
when he is baiting Harry. Her absense is conspicuous. And, it gives a 
wonderful reason for why Snape protects Harry. As much as he hates 
the fact that Harry is James's son, Harry is also Lily's son as well. 
Poor Snape. Imagine his dismay when, after a decade of 
secretly "marinating" (yes, a KISSING JESSICA STEIN reference) over 
the death of Lily, he is suddenly confronted with Harry (the son he 
never, but in his mind, should have had with Lily). That 
this "mockery" of his own imagined son looks like James adds insult 
to injury.

  JKR is brilliant in that despite all of Snape's disagreeableness 
and rancor, he is really the only true "father" figure in the series 
to Harry. I can hear the protests now...What about Dumbledore and 
Lupin and Black? Well, I would argue that Dumbledore is more of a 
grandfather figure. He helps Harry certainly, but he is by nature a 
more "distant" character...aloof and benevolent. Lupin and Black are 
the proverbial "uncles". Their concern for Harry, as thus far shown 
in the series, is powerful but isolated. Thus, it is Snape who 
actively and consistently protects Harry (Most evident in SS and 
GoF). And, never forget the look that Snape gives Harry at the end of 
GoF. 

   I believe that part of JKR's "conclusion" to the series in Book 7 
will be Harry's eventual understanding of Snape and Snape's behavior. 
Part of growing up is realizing that surface appearances are not all 
that they appear to be. 

   I personally cannot wait for the moment when JKR actually has 
someone clearly mention Lily in front of Snape. Not just a vague 
reference to Harry's parents, but when someone actually says the 
name "Lily Potter" in front of Snape. I shall be very curious as to 
the look JKR describes on Snape's face.

   And, I wish that somehow we could see Snape looking into the 
Mirror of Erised. I am sure we can all surmise who he would see...


   So, any theories as to if and when and how Snape/Lily will be 
revealed? 

 Again, thrilled to be onoard and look forward to many more messages.


                          Cheerio,

                          Archgarchus of the HMS LOLLIPOPS