Snape. Woo-HOO! With All Due Apologies to Captain Cindy.

[pegruppel]

No: HPFGUIDX 56447

Darrin wrote a whole series of comments to which I can only reply: 
Here! Here! (with a flat, midwestern American accent that does no 
justice to the British pronunciation).

Snape is, as Darrin says, the most complicated character of the lot.  
His past is only seen from the point of view of Harry and his old 
school enemies.  I don't believe we can make too many assumptions 
about the "real" Snape behind the mask.  

I certainly don't believe that his chambers are decorated in chintz 
and French antiques.  But I suspect, with many others on the list, 
that at least *some* of his behavior is meant to convince the 
Slytherins that he's on their side.  Other incidents, Hermione's 
teeth being one, the threat to poison Neville's toad Trevor, etc., 
etc., are beyond the pale.

I would also point out that we don't know what Dumbledore had to say 
to him.  There's no way that Dumbledore didn't know about the 
incident with Hermione, since she went to the hospital wing.  Snape 
wouldn't have been reduced to snivelling (a la Pettigrew), but I bet 
he was read the riot act.  At least, I hope so.  And I, for one, 
wouldn't mess with an angry Dumbledore.

I'm not defending any of the really brutal things he has done, but I 
do think that there's far, far more to Snape's story than we've been 
allowed to see.  And isn't it interesting that he seems to provoke 
the most passion, on many fronts, from so many people?  I think 
that's evidence of JKR's skill.  Creating a fictional character that 
provokes such love/hate is a testament to her ability.

Peg