[HPforGrownups] "Love" of Lily---did it have to be love?

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 35003

Eric Oppen wrote:
> 
> It occurs to me that the basic theory behind L.O.L.L.I.P.O.P.S. can be
> perfectly correct, even if Snape and Lily Evans were never, ever in love
> with each other. 

<snip theory>

> So---does this theory cover all the ground?

Well, much as I am a fan of male/female FRIENDSHIPS, I'm not sure
it does, because it doesn't account for Snape's hatred of James
Potter, nor his attitude toward Harry.  Not that there couldn't
be other reasons for these, of course, but one of the original
bases for the "Snape-loved-Lily" theory in the first place was
that it provided a believable reason for Snape's animosity toward
James (and to an extent Harry).  If you don't need a relationship
with Lily to explain that, and you don't need it to explain
Snape's leaving the DE's, then . . . what purpose does it serve?


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>