Snape the father (was SHIP: LOLLIPOPS fights on)

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 37971

Archgarchus de LOLLIPOPS wrote:

>   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. 

This is a new slant on Snape: Harry the son-he-never-had.  I do agree 
(despite Carole) that Sirius is only partially functioning in father 
role.  If it wasn't for the fact that Snape is horrible to Neville 
and Hermione, I would say that his behaviour to Harry *is* a bit like 
that of some teachers when they end up teaching their own offspring - 
bending over backwards to be seen not to favour them.  That Hermione, 
Neville and Harry are all secretly siblings in some Snapeverse does 
take a bit of getting used to, though: beyond acronyms, I'd say.

I think I'm ultimately with Pippin, who posted a couple of months 
back (Message 35033) that:

>>IMO, it is dramatically neccessary that more than circumstance 
keeps Sirius from being a satisfactory replacement for the father 
Harry has lost, for Harry himself has to step into those shoes. 
Indeed, it is this, and not going to live with Sirius, that produces 
Harry's patronus in PoA.<<

Certainly, in the priori incantatem scene, it is James he is thinking 
of, though we don't exactly know why.

David