[HPforGrownups] Snape eating or not eating

[Jean Lamb]

No: HPFGUIDX 68568

We are told that Snape is never seen eating (at least by Harry) at 12
Grimmauld Place. There are several possible reasons for this:

1) The vampire or part/vampire hypothesis. I lean towards part/vampire,
myself--it would have been difficult for him to conceal it while young and a
student at Hogwarts, and at least two Gryffindors would have found
themselves with severe iron deficiency soon after the Worst Memory incident
(at least Black would have following the Prank). One can theorize that a
part vampire may never know it if they never consume human blood--but if
Voldemort knew of Snape's ancestry and wanted to turn him, this could have
been arranged. Once Voldemort was 'dead', Snape might not have needed blood
on a regular basis, or simply taken his beefsteak _very_ rare. But once
Voldemort arose again, Snape might have felt a certain amount of hunger for
blood once more. (This could lead to him teaching Potions _after_ a
good&juicy death scene. Given how far north Hogwarts is compared to say,
most of the States, this could be managed with late afternoon/early evening
classes).

2) Suspicion of Kreacher and/or Black's hospitality. I'm sorry to say, but
Black _would_ find it humorous to substitute say, jalapenos  for other
vegetables in the salad. Also, Kreacher would likely realize that his new
master really hated Snape and would feel obligated to at least make
dinnertime interesting, if indeed Kreacher would serve Snape at all. Now,
this should mean that it's relatively safe for Snape to eat Molly's cooking,
but he might not know at which times she's cooking and when Kreacher is.

3) Pureblood conventions. Black might have to formally offer the hospitality
of his house before Snape would feel allowed to take food or drink no matter
who it's prepared by. And would Black enjoy watching Snape have to pass on
such while everybody else eats and drinks? C'mon, even his greatest fans
have to admit he does have that kind of sense of humor where it comes to
Snape. Besides, Black would enjoy the vampire!Snape speculation that went on
afterwards, seeing it as a kind of revenge for the way Snape outed Lupin at
Hogwarts (though you will notice that Snape didn't do so outright till Lupin
failed to take his potion, which _did_ endanger the students, but Snape did
get several digs in prior to that, so he's not entirely off the hook on that
one. I did so love the way Lupin starting having fun with the vampire bit
himself in PoA, though).

So it's trivial. I'm having fun with it and hope you do too.

Jean Lamb, tlambs1138 at charter.net
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for you are crunchy and good with
lemon drops."