Lollipops torpedo/ aging D'dore/house-elves

[jklb66]

No: HPFGUIDX 34952

I'm willing to believe that young Severus was fond of Lily.  It fits 
well with his hatred of James.  But I'm having trouble imagining him 
full-blown obsessed with her.  The people who knew Lily always tell 
Harry that he has his mother's eyes.  I have trouble imagining Prof. 
Snape leaning in close to Harry during potions class, staring into 
those green eyes so much like his lost love's, and saying all the 
nasty things he does. Granted, Snape is now seeing those eyes in a 
face that resembles James, but even still...  Harry is just as much 
Lily's son as she is James's.  Could Severus really loathe Lily's 
child if he loved Lily?

I find it more plausible that Snape decided to try and save the 
Potters by spying (for I do believe he did so) because he owed James 
for saving his life.  In PoA, Dumbledore tells Harry, "When one 
wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between 
them...This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry."  
And if Severus felt some affection for Lily, it probably strengthened 
his resolve.
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On another topic, I'm currently rereading GoF, and I was struck by 
how often Harry notices that Dumbledore is getting old and weary 
looking.  I almost feel like Dumbledore, getting on in years, is 
staying alive on sheer willpower.  Dumbledore knows that Voldemort is 
out there, plotting his return, and Dumbledore knows that he is 
the "general" who will have to lead the fight against him when he 
does return.  He doesn't dare allow himself the "next great 
adventure" of death until he knows that Voldemort has been stopped.  
Any thoughts?

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Someone else may have already said this (I'm behind in reading 
posts!), but regarding Dobby apparating at Hogwarts:  Yes!  We see 
him do this on more than one occasion.  I think in future books we 
are going to learn just how powerful house-elf magic is.  Not only 
can they apparate at Hogwarts (something wizards cannot do), but they 
do not need wands to do the same charms that wizards tend to require 
wands for.  Also, remember that Winky was powerful enough to serve as 
Barty Jr.'s jailer.  Yes, he was under daddy's imperius curse, but 
even when he was starting to rebel against it, Winky was able to 
force Jr. to go with her into the woods.  He only got free of her 
when she was stunned by the MoM wizards. There has to be some reason 
Hermione started S.P.E.W. (besides being a person of high moral 
fiber).  I think the house-elves will prove powerful allies for 
the "good" side.