Snape and the foe glass

[jklb66]

No: HPFGUIDX 35647

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Porphyria <porphyria at m...> wrote:
>Some other people were wondering why Snape seems to be 
> so taken with his reflection here, as if he'd never seen it before, 
I 
> wanted to offer an alternative interpretation for his reaction to 
it.
> 
> Snape has been having more that a few identity crisis problems 
> throughout GoF, in the essentialism vs. existentialism category. He 
has, 
> for the last 15 years or so, _acted_ in the service of good, he's 
_done 
> good things_ (risked his life to spy, protected Harry over and 
over, 
> remained loyal to Dumbledore). So this means that he's Good because 
he 
> acts that way. But then this damn scar, this insignia which brands 
him 
> as being essentially Evil reappears, and even though he knows 
better it 
> bothers him. A lot. He's stained, as the fake!Moody implies, and he 
> shudders convulsively at the mere thought. Plus "Moody" himself 
accuses 
> Snape of being untrustworthy, that is, of being a 'foe' of 
>Dumbledore's. So with his past catching up with him at every step 
(when Moody isn't dogging his heels Karkaroff is), Snape has a lot of 
>identity issues to be anxious about.
> 
> So when Snape finally walks into "Moody's" office and looks to this 
> mirror and sees, metaphorically, a reflection of his own 'self,' it 
> probably took him several seconds to ponder the immense irony of 
>the situation. The mirror reveals him to be a 'foe' of "Moody" not 
>because he's Evil, but precisely because he's Good. "Moody" is 
>really the one whom Dumbledore is mistaken to trust, not Snape. He 
>probably found it therapeutic to let this all sink in. It's actually 
>a very touching scene. And I'll be ripped if it has anything to do 
>with vampires. 

Thank you!  Thank you, Porphyria!  I don't believe Snape is a vampire 
(for many reasons) and I'd be disappointed if he turned out to be 
one.  Being a former DE is enough of a deep dark secret for any one 
person to carry.  But the stupid foe glass was bothering me because I 
couldn't explain Snape's reaction to it.  Your expalnation works 
perfectly, and it does indeed make the scene "touching."  Snape has 
been in hell this year, and this moment would indeed be very 
therapeutic.

Now, if someone could please tell me why Severus has such poor 
grooming habits.  I'd love to buy him a big bottle of shampoo and 
make him an appointment for teeth cleaning with Hermione's parents.  
Maybe I'd even make him something chocolate to cheer him up. ;)