OoP - Snapes Thoughts - a bit long

[Cindy]

No: HPFGUIDX 70350

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "junediamanti"
<june.diamanti at b...> wrote:

> 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.

I have been thinking about this a lot also. Firstly, highly
intelligent people always loathe being made fun or, as the thing they
fear the most is that people will think they are wrong about
something. Also, perhaps Snape's abusive father regularily made fun of
him. Snape's sarcasm is so much a part of his personality that he
doesn't even need to think about it before using it, it just flows
naturally. He had to have practice somewhere.


> 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).

You are definately right here about everything! At least I think so. I
had the 'pleasure' of teaching a boy who's parents were quite abusive
and dysfunctional a couple of years ago, and I still can't forget
about this boy! He was so bitter and angry and always causing trouble,
even other students would pick on him. I found him once, standing
around trying to stop and extremely bloody nose from spilling all over
the place. He refused to tell me what happend, but took my offer of
help gladly, and he was even a bit shocked that I wanted to help him.
I took him to the 'sick bay', and stayed with him a while. He was
still far from perfect after that, but he treated me with respect. 

> 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.  

I really like this scene as well! I don't know if you have seen the
film 'Life as a House', but the main character in that film (the
teenage boy) reminds me very much of Snape. There is a scene where he
yells out to his mother "why don't you all just die and leave me
alone!" So Snapeish! :-)

> 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.  

I am absolutely positive that they are purebloods. Snape'swhole
behaviour in that scene reminded me of Draco Malfoy. And I doubt that
Voldemort would 'employ' anything less.

> 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.

I don't even thing that Snape knows the meaning of the word 'chill',
as I don't think that he has ever experienced any kind of emotion
close to 'chilling' in his life ;-) That's only one of the reasons why
I love him so much!!!
Also, I agreeit must have been difficult to watch those two gits
strutting around like they owned the place.


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

I love it!!! Mwaaa haaa haa! ;-) 
> Long post by June in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.  How did I manage 
> before I found this board?
A long post but the best one I have had the pleasure of reading here
so far! Thank you for posting it!
-Cindy
http://www.designerpotions.com/ss