[HPforGrownups] Re: Shack Flints, Snape's motivation

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 36810

In a message dated 21/03/02 15:30:57 GMT Standard Time, rusalka at ix.netcom.com 
writes:


> I think you're right.  (This is, of course, in no way incompatible
> with my theory about Snape's fear of Lupin.  Gotta love all those
> layers.)  In particular, I think Snape wants recognition from
> Dumbledore.  Which is why he falls apart so badly when Dumbledore
> takes HRH's side -- not only taking their word over Snape's, but
> aiding and abetting their efforts to help Black escape, and then
> standing there twinkling when Snape confronts them with what they both
> know is true.
> 
> I like to think that soon after PoA there was an off-stage scene where
> Snape and Dumbledore sat down and hashed it all out.  That would be
> where Snape was finally persuaded of Sirius' innocence (clearing the
> way for that handshake at the and of GoF), and where Dumbledore
> explained that his actions had not been motivated by distrust of
> Snape.
> 

I should have added this to my reply to Porphyria, had I read it in time. 
Yes. Of course this taking of HRH's side painfully echos the way Dumbledore 
took the Marauders' side (from Snape's POV) after the Prank. My original 
speculation (going back to my musings about his childhood in my last post) 
was that he was seeking a father-figure in the big D, his own having let him 
down by never showing him any approval. I'm glad there are other people 
apround who seem to have similar views. I'm still suffering from the 
reactions I got when I postulated such ideas when I first joined and got 
several rebuttals, not realising in those days that silence does not always 
mean dissent.

Lysa disagrees with Marina over her off-stage scene:

>I hate to be argumentative in my first post, but I humbly disagree. No 
>way could Dumbledore persuade Snape of Black's innocence, especially so soon 
>after the incident. Snape was still burning from losing the "Order of 
>Merlin" title which would cause him to be much less sympathetic to all 
>concerned. I think he only did the handshake brecause Dumbledore asked him 
>to, and with all the events that had taken place, he probably would have 
felt 
>very petty had he refused. The handshake was not an admission on Snape's 
>part of Black's innocence, but more of an agreement to disagree for the time 
>being, since they had bigger fish to fry at that point in time. Also out of 
>respect for Harry, grudging thought it may be.

Well, I don't think he could have persuaded him *too* soon after the 
incident. I'm sure Severus had to go off and have a sulk over some 
particularly complex potion and take a few more nocturnal perambulations to 
simmer down and get things in perspective before Dumbledore could approach 
him. But the handshake was a *year* later.
You don't need to apologise for being argumentative, though. Many of us are 
tarred with that brush round here. So argue away. We'll just argue back. 
Especially Snapefans. And Snape haters. And people who concoct elaborate 
theories about memory charms. And people who like to accuse all and sundry of 
being DEs. And people who disapprove of subversive readings of canon and... 
Is there anyone on this list who isn't argumentative?   
    

Marina:
I hope I don't alienate myself from the other Snapefans too
much with this theory, but I have this strong suspicion that the
16-year-old Severus did not acquit himself at all well when faced with
a snarling werewolf in a narrow tunnel.  He was not Tough.  He
screamed like a girl and went wobbly in the knees and forgot all those
vaunted Dark Hexes he's been so famous for since he was eleven.  In
short, he panicked, and to make it worse, he was *seen* panicking --
by James at the very least, and possibly by other Marauders and a few
teachers too.  How much more humiliating can you get?

Eloise.
I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure what I think, but you're not 
alienating me.
Do you realise what we're doing? Letting them all see that we're even more 
hopelessly Big SnapeFans than they ever realised, because we're not just 
foolishly blind to Severus' faults, but take them on board, even revel in 
them on occasion. Severus, warts and all. Well, not warts, we've got enough 
other physical shortcomings to deal with. I don't mind glossing over *those*!

Eloise


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