Re:_Where_Snape_belongs_on_the_family_tree

[marika_thestral]

No: HPFGUIDX 79282

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, An'nai Jiriki <xmezumiiru at y...> 
wrote:

Chris:
<snip> 
Lastly, and a bit of a stretch, is that Snape fulfilled the 
requirements for Slytherin, in all but the pure-bred status, as a 
muggle-born. 

Marika: 
He defenitely didn't grow up among muggles. At least according to 
Black, Snape knew a great number of curses when he came to Hogwarts. 
It's very likely he leart those either for self-protection or because 
he grew up in an environment where somebody (his father?) used them a 
lot.
 
Chris's answer:
<snip>
Besides, it was only Black who said that as propoganda, and Black was 
laughing at the time. Nowhere else is that said or disproved. 
Combined with
that, Hermione is muggle-born and she walked into hogwarts able to do 
magic. "I've tried a few simple spells just for practice..." (USPS 
HPatSS 105). 
<snip> 
I also use the fact that Snape was picked on and teased. If he was 
that good at Dark Arts walking into Hogwarts, why would anyone want 
to pick on him?

Marika's answer:

I'm all there for discrediting some things that Black said :-)  but I 
don't want to be too unfair either (just a little). The quote I had 
in mind is one from GoF (pp 460 Br. Ed.) " `Snape knew more curses 
when he arrived at school than half the kids in seventh year and he 
was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be 
Death Eaters.' Sirius held up his fingers, and began ticking off 
names". He is not laughing here at all, and this is one of the few 
times I really like Black, because he appears stable and less 
hotheaded than normal. The information he gives about the 
Slytherins/DE:s is correct, as far as we know, so I can see that what 
he said about Snape's knowledge might turn out to be true too.

About your question why anyone would want to pick on him, I'd say 
that it wasn't "anyone", but two of the smartest and most popular 
kids in school. Why would Snape's knowledge stop them from bullying 
him, when they were at least two against one? It's also likely that 
Black himself knew some stuff when he came to Hogwarts. 

Well, this is my take on it. I mean, it's just how I interpret what I 
read.

Marika - a very stubborn, but peace loving Taurus