Why Readers Love Snape

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 33511

If Alan Rickman was, as reported, JKR's choice to play Snape, 
then she knows perfectly well that the character has an attractive 
side. All her comments about how horrible Snape is are part of 
the act. 

One) They let us know that, no, in real life a teacher should not 
act they way Snape does.

Two) They're misdirection: like the magician's flourish. "Nothing 
up my sleeve," s/he says, so you don't look at the *other* sleeve. 
Some of us like to watch the show and be amazed, others like to 
see if we can spot the springwork. JKR has to keep us both 
guessing, so she tosses out ambiguous comments like "Who'd 
want Snape in love with them?" which don't answer the question 
at all.

Pippin