The inner Snape (was:Re: Grey laundry - depression) longish

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 76912

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "The Crashing Boar" 
<crashing.boar at n...> wrote:
>   Perhaps it might have been better put that this is what Snape 
perceives as people's reaction to him.  I see Lupin's banter as a 
(usually) good natured attempt to be friendly towards Snape, drawing 
on shared memories and the like, but Snape has more to fear and 
dislike about those days than Lupin, so sees it as a taunt.  None of 
the others are particularly friendly, but Snape isn't either - 
again, he has what he sees as good reason to dislike Aurors and 
Unspeakables. 
> 
>   He also probably understands better than most that any of them 
could become *acceptable casualties*, sacrificed for the greater 
good, so chooses not to become close (something he learned under 
LV?).  He probably suspects that he'd be the first they'd throw to 
the Fates, given the choice.
> 
I thought I detected a certain warmth in his reunion with McGonagall 
at the end of OotP.  He interrupted one of his favourite pastimes, 
punishing Harry, in order to stride over to greet her when she 
arrived, and I think she seemed glad to see him too, though neither 
of them is the demonstrative type.  The little exchange that 
followed, where she added points so Snape could then subtract them, 
and thus do no damage, seemed to me rather playful.  I definitely 
got the feeling they were teasing each other; in the earlier books, 
they were primarily school colleagues, and shared the 
competitiveness between their houses.  Now, they share more 
important things, and this business of points gained and lost is 
recognized by both to be rather trifling in the long run.  But they 
must put on a show for the benefit of the students, of course, 
particularly Draco and his chums.  I think Harry is so numbed by 
everything he's been through, he doesn't even notice what's going on.

Wanda