Neville/Snape Question

[Jamie Lipton]

No: HPFGUIDX 38078

In HPforGrownups at y..., "peppermintfatty" <peppermintfatty at y...>
wrote:
>  I was wondering if anywhere on this board anyone has explored the
> potential of Snape's continual haranguing of Neville being due to
the
> fact that Snape feels sorry for him.

Firstly, Neville is completely incompetant in Snape's class.  Based on what
we've seen of Snape, this by itself is a good enough reason for Snape to
despise Neville, criticize him harshly, and speak badly of him to others.

Snape feels the same way and does the same things to Harry.  Harry is
(probably) average at potions, so Snape defends his dislike for Harry by
insisting that Harry is arrogant, unmindful of rules, and ungrateful to the
people who try to protect him.  But we also know that Snape really couldn't
stand James (due to one or more of the following: Quidditch, 'the prank,'
general inter-house tension, academic rivalry, or the Lily Evans situation.)

Knowing that Snape holds an multi-generational grudge against Potters, I
think maybe he's holding one against Longbottoms as well.  The Death Eaters
orphaned both Harry and Neville, and where other people show sympathy, Snape
shows hatred.  Maybe he hated the Longbottoms like he hated James Potter.
As aurors, they could be responsible for the
killing/imprisonment/mistreatment of any number of people Snape may have
been close with: friends, family, lovers, etc.  Perhaps they were the ones
responsible for dragging Snape himself in for consorting with the Dark Lord,
since we know that at one point Dumbledore had to vouch for him.

Just an idea.
- Jamie