OoP - Snapes Thoughts - a bit long

[junediamanti]

No: HPFGUIDX 70219

I've been trying to read up much of the ongoing debate about Snape 
and I've put together something that I think.  I don't think that 
this really fits into any of the current threads but older board 
users can correct me if I am wrong.

I have seen a lot of debate about the Pensieve incident, but very 
little about the things Harry sees when he gets into Snape's mind 
during the occlumency lesson.  I think these give an interesting 
psychological insight into Snape - here's how I read it - what do 
others think?

First of all, note that these were not the thoughts that Snape 
removed into the Pensieve.  Memory is a very subjective event but I 
think some of these things were worse than a school humiliation.  
Obviously Snape doesn't think so, but being made fun of seems to be 
the worst thing for him.

Here is what Harry sees:

1.  A man who looks remarkably like Snape shouting at a cowering 
woman while a small boy cries in the corner.  Despite any 
suggestions to the contrary, I think the man is Snape's dad and not 
Snape himself.  Snape is the  small child crying in the corner.  Why 
do I think that?  Because I think Harry would have recognised the 
man as Snape immediately if it were he.

2.  Skinny teenager in bedroom cursing flies.

3.  Ditto skinny kid mounting bucking broomstick and being mocked.

OK - here's my spin on things.  Snape was the product of a 
dysfunctional family at the very least and may well have been 
abused.  I suspect that this kind of scene was a regular occurence 
Chez Snape because a one-off might have been forgotten.  He didn't 
remove this thought before the lesson because it meant very little 
to him as it happened so often.  That is not to say that it was 
anything but a terrible memory but not one he allows himself to 
dwell on over much - no-one was there to see it after all.  Such 
scenes regularly witnessed do not produce happy, balanced children.  
Even assuming daddy Snape never so much as raised a hand to wife or 
child, adults often forget just how terrifying to a small child a 
yelling angry adult is, especially if it is one of his parents.  
Small wonder Snape isn't exactly a barrel of laughs.  Most kids who 
are products of this kind of home carry a lot of baggage.  Rage:  at 
both parents - the bullying dad for doing it, rage at mum for either 
causing it, allowing it, staying and putting up with it (and making 
young Severus a hostage to it) instead of leaving.  Guilt: most kids 
in those circumstances end up riddled with guilt as they feel they 
cause it by something they did or said, or by virtue of their very 
existence; they might feel they could have done more for the victim 
parent.  Also the kid produced by this kind of home learns bullying 
behaviour under expert tuition - often because the bullying parent 
is an absolute charmer the rest of the time.  The result is a kid 
who has poor confidence, low self-esteem, or who hides this by a 
show of toughness.  

I also think the Snapes were poor.  I don't mean with cashflow 
problems like the Weasley's but really "shirt-tail".  I also suspect 
they were purebloods who had been on a downward slide.  This might 
be the reason for the rows (or it may have been Daddy Snape's 
inordinate fondness for firewhiskey).  Why poor - take a look at the 
gloomy room with the flies in - I mean gimme a break this is doss-
house standard (flop-house for those of you over the Atlantic).

The scene of teenaged Snape in his grotty room, practising the AK on 
the fly population made me smile -because all that's missing from 
this scene of disaffected youth are a few gloomy goth posters on the 
wall and perhaps a stereo blasting out the Smiths doing "How Soon is 
Now".  But notice the greasy hair and such - this is not down to 
potions - this is down to Snape's mum being so wrapped up in her own 
troubles she forgot to do the hygeine/grooming talk that I think all 
good mums should.  

Back to why I think they are purebloods - the fact that Snape used 
this insult in the Pensieve scene is the reason.  I do not believe 
that anyone but purebloods would use such an insult.  Additionally, 
I suspect that a basic requirement for admission to the DE ranks is 
a fairly thorough pureblood pedigree search.  

Finally, the flying scene.  Basically - he had no natural gift for 
flying. This was his first attempt and he made a complete horlicks 
of it.  No-one hexed the broom but some girl laughed derisively and 
he never forgot.  He's hated any natural at Quidditch ever since. 

Essentially, this is a person who if you told him to chill out would 
look at you as if you were stark staring mad.  This guy never 
forgets a slight or injury.  He went to Hogwarts delighted to get 
out from under the old man but he was laden with emotional baggage 
and had a chip roughly the size of a grand piano on his shoulder.  
His advantages were a good mind, and a burning ambition to do 
better - small wonder he ended up in Slytherin and its no wonder he 
couldn't stand either James or Sirius - to him between them they 
have it all.

Oh, and I just bet he picked up all his curse words from Dad.

So he was sick, bitter and twisted - I kinda like that in a person.

Long post by June in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.  How did I manage 
before I found this board?