[HPforGrownups] A detailed analysis of Snape's hatred of Harry (S.N.O.T.)

[SnapesSlytherin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 49072

Diana:
Why *would* Snape hold such a deep hatred for James for so many 
years?  Well, I would say that Snape went to Hogwart's with a vision 
of himself as *the* person [instead of James] who *deserved* the 
popularity, athletic ability and fun-loving personality that James 
must have had.  The problem was that Snape didn't have any of those 
things and these are things that can be gained by waving a magic 
wand and wishing them to be so.  

Me:
Well...he *is* only human.  Can anyone honestly say that they never hated the 
people who had everything?  (If you think you can, then you were one of the 
people with everything *grin*)  I know I can't.  You twist reality in your 
mind so that these people are keeping you down, and you deserve the glory.

Diana:
That is why Snape enjoys picking on Harry so very much ¡V he¡¦s not punishing 

Harry, but James in the secret recesses of his heart.  

Me:
People do that all the time.  When the make fun of someone, they might not be 
making fun of them, but someone like them.  I've done it to sibling of my 
"enemies".

Diana:
Like James, Harry also gets away with breaking the rules, a lot, and 
gets a lot of breaks.  In Snape¡¦s view, this is another unfair perk 
that both James enjoyed and Harry enjoys while at Hogwarts.  What 
Snape doesn¡¦t realize in his obsessive hatred of all things James 
and Harry, is that Harry breaks the rules not because he *can*, but 
because he *must*

Me:
I agree with Snape there.  I personally cannot stand people who break the 
rules and get ahead, while those of us who follow get nowhere.  No one is 
above the rules.  Period.  Now, I disagree with you on the "can vs. must".  
Harry doesn't *have* to do anything, he chooses to.  Hence, can wins to me.

Diana:
Harry also uses his father¡¦s invisibility cloak, which Snape 
discovers the existence of in GoF, without any supervision, 
repercussions or punishment from Dumbledore.  Snape must know that 
Dumbledore is not only fully aware that Harry has this cloak, but 
gave it to him and allows him to use it whenever he wants.  Snape is 
also probably aware that Dumbledore has not told any of the staff 
that Harry has an invisibility cloak as Snape had to stumble upon it 
himself by accident.  In Snape¡¦s view this is a classic example of 
Harry, like James, getting all the perks and good stuff in life 
without any of the punishments.

Me:
But it's true.  Harry gets all kind of perks.  In CoS, when they drive that 
car to school, the punishment should've been more severe.  Muggles were 
alerted to the existence of magic!  Dumbledore, and everyone else, has a soft 
spot for Harry.  He just wants to be another kid.  But, with all his special 
treatment, he isn't.

Diana:
So, to conclude, Snape is an unpleasant, hateful, spiteful and petty 
person.

Me:
Ouch.  I'd like to think that there are more levels to everyone than what we 
see on the surface...  He has his reasons for his hate, and he feels 
justified.  I know what he means.  It's very easy to dwell on events that 
happened long in the past if you feel you were extremely wronged.  I'm 
dwelling on an incident from 5th grade for the love of Salazar Slytherin.

In *my* closing, Snape is not S.N.O.T. ... Snape is S.I.L.K. (Snape is 
likeable...kinda.)  Alot of people can relate to the feeling of being shunted 
to the side by the golden boys, watching them gleefully break the rules and 
almost never get caught - and on the rare occasions they *do* get caught, the
y are not severly punished.  I agree with Snape on alot of things.

~*~*~Oryomai~*~*~
(Who's hoping that acronym makes sense...it's her first shot at making 
one...)


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