Snape and the Malfoys (was Re: Harry's Putative Death)

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 42092

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "purple_801999" <purple_801999 at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...> wrote: 
>  
>  Darrin wrote: 
>  
> > For that matter, we don't know if Snape disagrees with the 
> pureblood 
> > theory. He might be a little like the old Southern Democrats in 
the  United States: "I don't want to hurt Negros," they'd say. "Just 
> don't  want them in my neighborhood."
> > 
> > Which also could explain his torture of Hermione. Maybe he finds 
> her just as distasteful as Draco does, and wants her out of 
Hogwarts, 
> but certainly doesn't want her killed.
> >  
> > Just the same as being suspicious of who you hate, sometimes we 
> > believe those we want to believe. 
> >


Olivia wrote:

> 
>  For some reason I see Snape drawn to Voldemort's camp more by the 
> opportunity to practice the Dark Arts than by any prejudice against 
> Muggles and the like.
> 
> Sirius said Snape has always been drawn to the DA and knew more 
> curses than most of the older students at Hogwart's when he first 
> arrived (GoF paraphrasing). I also have a personal theory that 
Snape 
> was in love with Lily Evans when they were students at Hogwarts.
> 
> As for his torture of Hermione I think that is just Snape picking 
on 
> her for being part of Harry's crowd and a know it all more than her 
> being Muggle-born. I think he's shown more cruelty to Neville who's 
> from a well known wizarding family than Hermione.
>  

Oh, you're right, I bet Snape liked the idea of being given free rein 
to play with the Dark Arts all he wanted too. Maybe he still does, 
which is why D-Dore keeps him far away from the DADA job. It would be 
like putting an alcoholic in charge of the liquor section of a 
grocery store.

While I'm not as keen on the soapish stuff with Snape being in love 
with Lily, I think it is possible some kind of relationship with a 
Muggle-born (or even a non-wizard Muggle), be it a romantic 
relationship, a family tie he never knew or a good friendship, 
spurred the betrayal of V-mort. Snape with unrequited love for Lily 
would tie in a lot of threads, though. 

You're right about Neville, but my defense to that is that Neville is 
borderline Squib (at least, so far) and Snape despises incompetence. 
My own pet theory about his torture of Hermione is also that he fears 
she will someday eclipse his accomplishments.

I believe any successful story needs pure good, pure evil and grey in 
the middle. I am not one the believes that modern heroic epics, which 
is what these books are, need to have everyone shades of grey. Harry 
and Dumbledore should represent pure good and Draco and Voldemort 
represent pure evil. (If only Draco would hurry along and become 
competent evil.)

BUT... Snape should be "pure" grey, which is why I floated the idea 
of him being caught in the middle. Too racist for polite society but 
not racist enough for V-Mort.


Darrin
-- Proudly celebrating the P.R. campaign that proclaimed bald as sexy.