New recruits, Snape's childhood, Ravenclaw, sucking it up

[Tabouli]

No: HPFGUIDX 36578

Morning dawns over the Good Ship LOLLIPOPS, and Captain Tabouli stirs at last.  As she rises from her bed and totters sleepily towards the wardrobe, she notices a small pink envelope an excited crew member must have shoved under her door during the night:

Crew member's note:
> Psst, Captain: I think we may have a potential new recruit swimming our way!  Look what our spies heard on shore!

Spy's report:
***
Susan P.:
> Though I'm not quite in the LOLLIPOP kayak (boat? whatever) yet, I'm swimming 
toward it. (So, yes - I do like Snape. He's most certainly not a nice man, 
but then, I wouldn't be quite so fascinated by him if he were.)<
***

The Captain's bleary eyes brighten.  She makes a mental note to tell her marketing representative to approach Susan P personally with a life-raft and a hot drink, and let her know that LOLLIPOPS is no mere kayak, but a tall and stately Ship, with luxury accommodation for all LOLLIPOPS flavours, including blood (for the Snape as Vampire who Loved Lily enthusiasts), flamingo (for the Snape Will Love Again brigade), and bitter lemon (the hardline, all-day sucker version, which proposes that Love of Lily was behind *everything*, from Snape's eagerness to catch out the Marauders to his decision to both join and later leave the Death-Eaters).  Just as she is about to put this report in her in-tray, a second spy report falls to the floor, reporting words attributed to Finwitch:

> Does Snape *care* for anyone?

Ahaaaa, chuckles the Captain, *clearly* rhetorical.  Apparently Finwitch believes that Snape does not appear to care for anyone.  And why is that, might one ask?  Because the one person in the world he *really* cared for, with all his greasy, bitter heart, was brutally slain at the hands of his former employer because he failed in his spying duties.  Worse still, the son she died for *lived* to attend his Potion classes, and has her eyes staring out of the hated, hated face of James Potter!  He loathed the child on sight, but then, since Lily died, he seems full of loathing for most people.  He respects Dumbledore, who took mercy on him in his darkest hour, and has a friendly rivalry with McGonagall (and perhaps a certain mutual empathy with fellow unlucky-in-love Filch), but as for caring, and close personal relationships, there seems room for them in him any more.  Besides which, if he is to maintain his ruse that he is still loyal to Voldermort (despite court announcements to the contrary) in front of his House full of Death-Eaters' children, he can't *afford* to be caring in public.  What sort of Death Eater would do that?

Chyna Rose:
> Currently, there is little evidence about Snape being a kid, let 
alone what he was like. And what little there is, shows Snape as 
mentally normal.<

The little evidence we do have does not suggest a happy childhood.  As Sirius reports in GoF, he arrived at school (aged 11) knowing more curses than half the kids in seventh year.  I imagine even Hermione didn't go that far.  Why did he study up on curses so obsessively?  To me, this suggests a resentful, damaged child who feels powerless and has secretly been plotting revenge on those who damaged him (which, given his mistrustful nature, could well have been his parents or guardians).  This also fits in with someone who bullies his students: it's not at *all* common for those bullied by those in authority over them to become bullies towards those over whom *they* have authority later in life.  Also his reputed "clever and cunning" nature... I could see a bright child developing an underhand cleverness in an abusive situation, both to avoid abuse and exact retribution without getting caught.  Also the ambition: they told me I was worthless and stupid and persecuted me... *I'll* Show 'Em.  That's what I think Snape wants: not glory, not popularity, but a sort of vengeful vindication.

Then there's the adolescence evidence.  The cool, handsome, popular-boy-that-was Sirius describes him as "slimy, oily and greasy-haired".  Doesn't sound a lad likely to be surrounded by friends and admirers, does he?  We know that Snape was always snooping around trying to get the Marauders expelled, to the extent of the Prank.  We know he *hated* James, and *hates* Sirius.  I say he was being taunted by the cool popular kid and the Quidditch star.  OK, so he hung around with a bunch of Slytherins, but I don't think that's proof that they were all a big happy supportive family to him.  I mean, they mostly grew up to become Death-Eaters!  I'd say they hung around with Snape out of a wary respect and took his side against Gryffindor (naturally), but when it came right down to it were much more about promoting their own agendas than being Snape's bosom buddies.  He was greasy, he was prickly, he was obsessed with Getting Back At The Gryffindors, but then, he was also smart and knew all those curses - wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Hmm... here's something for us all to ponder... let's say Draco's suggestion was taken up. Dumbledore is removed, and Snape is offered the position of Headmaster.  Would he accept?  (I say no, but what do you think?)  If so, how would he perform in the role, what would happen and how would Hogwarts change??

Saint Bacchus of Anna:
> I disagree with this, because I don't think competence
is an inherent Ravenclaw trait. I've known plenty of
people who got through school without the brains to fill
a thimble just because they studied hard.<

I always saw Ravenclaw as the house for intellectuals, which is not the same thing as the House for people who get Good Marks At School.  People can get good marks for all sorts of reasons (cheating, studying maniacally, being good at psychoanalysing teachers and how they assess, photographic memory, sheer brilliance which enables them to excel with little effort, etc.).  Being intellectual, IMO, has more to do with an interest in knowledge and ideas and learning for their own sake, not necessarily as a means to an end (such as good marks, achieving fame and fortune, etc.).  Presumably intellectuals would be more likely to do well at school *on the whole* because they'd be more interested in studying and understanding and discussing the concepts they were learning for their own sake.  All the same, you could have the interest but not the ability, or the diligence.  Also, remember that from what we've seen, many Hogwarts exams seem to be practical, which might even put Ravenclaws at a disadvantage.  Maybe some Ravenclaws argue into the night about Transfiguration theories and neglect the tedious workmanlike practical work they're meant to be doing.

I should know.  When I was studying Chemistry at university (what a mistake that was), I was fine with exams and theory, but hampered by being absolutely *useless* at pracs.  I also used to sit around and endlessly debate and analyse the concepts and research we were studying in 4th year Psychology with the other intellectual-oriented types, which used to drive others mad: we're *out* of class now, can you please talk about something else??  Hmm.  You'd think this would make me a Ravenclaw, but the various Sorting Hats I've tried keep on declaring me either Gryffindor or Slytherin (though never, ever, *ever* Hufflepuff.  Not a *chance*).

Caius:
> MOODY
>I have been discreet, 
>But it's Death I Eat, says Mad-Eye

Tabouli chuckles appreciatively.  'But it's Death I Eat' indeed...


David:
> Am I the only person who dislikes the expression 'suck it up'?

I'm not keen on it in isolation.  All the same, like most things, context is everything.  Coming from the Tough, FEATHERBOA-draped fingers of Cindy, the phrase does have a certain Hard ring to it...

Tabouli.


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