[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape/Petunia Connection [was Snape's "Mind Set"]

[Carol Bainbridge]

No: HPFGUIDX 44501

Jessica wrote:
><snip> what if Snape and Petunia were siblings or at
> > least cousins. That would make Snape and Lily relatives. If this
> > were the case, then perhaps Snape's dislike for James was based
> > on a protectiveness he has for Lily, his little sister or cousin.
> > That would also give James a motive for saving Snape's life
> > (because Snape would be James's girlfriend's brother or cousin).
> > That would also explain why Snape seems to love and hate Harry.
> > As Harry's uncle, Snape feels like he must watch over Harry. At
> > the same time,because Harry reminds Snape so much of James,
> > Snape dislikes Harry.


Michelle replied:
>As much as I like these theories, what you have said above about
>James (and Lily) knowing, and all , I can't imagine this getting past
>Dumbledore and Dumbledore categorically states in PS that the
>Dursley's are Harry's only living relatives, now If Snape is a
>relation to Lily then the Dursley's wouldn't be Harry's only living
>relatives would they?

A couple points here.  One, I think it is quite likely that if Snape is 
related to Lily, it might not be general knowledge.  In an earlier post, I 
had suggested that Snape's parents were Mr. and Mrs. Evans and that Mrs. 
Evans died.  Before she died, though, she had a son they named 
Perseus.  After she died, Mr. Evans, knowing the anti-Muggle feelings in 
the wizard world, thought it would be best to give his son up to be raised 
by wizards in the WW, but first changed his name so few people would know 
his muggle connection.  Rearranging the letters in his son's name, he comes 
up with Severus Snape.  Of course, Dumbledore probably knew about Snape's 
real background, but not everyone would.  So why would Dumbledore say that 
the Dursleys were Harry's only relatives, then?  Well, he doesn't.  And 
that brings me to my second point.  What Dumbledore says is that the 
Dursleys are Harry's only FAMILY left.  A minor, but significant 
difference, IMO.  If Snape is single, he's hardly the person to provide a 
family life for Harry.  Heck, maybe that's another reason Snape has the 
love-hate relationship with Harry.  Maybe he had actually wanted to take 
Harry in -- out of a sense of duty, of course -- but Dumbledore vetoed that 
idea for a large number of reasons, one of which is his disposition.  I 
also don't think Dumbledore knew what the Dursleys were like when he sent 
Harry there to live.  While he knows a great deal about the WW (but not 
everything), he can't possibly know as much about the Muggle world.  If 
Lily was a wonderful person, what reason would Dumbledore have for thinking 
his sister is as horrible as she was?  Sure, he could have checked it out, 
but I'm guessing he was spending his time setting protections in place for 
Harry.

Carol Bainbridge
(kaityf at jorsm.com)

http://www.lcag.org