[HPforGrownups] Re: OoP - Snapes Thoughts - a bit long

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 70588

June wrote:

> Incidentally, it occurs to me that there are repeated parrallels in
> the experience of many of the kids in the books - its like a lot of
> them have a great deal in common without ever knowing it:
>
> Snape - Draco: Lousy parents
>
Snipped the rest because I agreed with it.  Not sure I go with this one
completely though.  I know we've debated at great length over Draco's
parents and how exactly they treat him.  We know they're lousy parents in
that they are teaching their son terrible ideas.  I know we have speculated
on Lucius being potentially verbally abusive because of the scene in Borgin
and Burkes having to do with his grades.  I don't wish to resurrect that
entire discussion, but have to wonder if there's anywhere else in canon to
show that the Malfoys have treated Draco terribly.

The basis for why I don't think the Malfoys and the Snapes can be compared
as parents:  Snape does not seem to think his homelife was that great.  We
see this greatly as a teenager, in his appearance, his walk, his lack of
self-confidence and, I believe, in the fact that he could have so much
hatred and pain inside him that he could use AK at an early age.  I don't
picture Snape walking around bragging about his parents and how wonderful
they are.  He'd rather not talk about them or hope that they drop dead one
day, most likely.

Draco, on the other hand, is proud of his family.  He's always going on
about "Father this and Father that."  He enjoys getting sweets from home.
He has said that his mother did not want him to go so far away from home to
school, so Lucius did not send him to Durmstrang.  Regardless on how we
would perceive the Malfoys to be treating their son, Draco seems to have no
problems with how he is treated and seems to think his parents are the
greatest things.  May I also note that Draco cares greatly about his
appearance and does not appear to have any self-confidence problems
whatsoever.

There are parallels between Snape and Draco, that I won't deny.  I also have
wondered just how much of himself Snape sees in Draco and if part of the
reason he treats him the way he does is because of that.  After all, he
actually called Draco by his first name in OotP, and I don't recall him
*ever* using a student's first name before.  And yes, I do think at least
part of his relationship with Draco is due to the role he's playing in
wanting Lucius to be pleased with him.

Kelly Grosskreutz
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova