Snape, Quidditch, and flying was Re: More Snape conundrums...

[bookraptor11]

No: HPFGUIDX 72159

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "melclaros" <melclaros at y...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kelly Grosskreutz" 
> <ivanova at i...> wrote:
> > Mim wrote:
> (speaking of Snape's memory of riding the bucking broom as a child)
> But now I wonder if he is also
> > somewhat afraid of flying on brooms.  This is a guy who had at 
> least one bad
> > experience with brooms. 

Melpomene replies: 
> After reading the bullying scene in OoP it would NOT strike me odd 
at 
> ALL to find out that James, star athelete broom master, took great 
> delight in "buzzing" Snape during whatever activities found  him in 
> the air. Sort of "Broomstick Chicken" if you will.
> I wouldn't put it past James and Sirius to have done it together in 
> their "tag team" routine and I'm willing to bet Severus took a few 
> tumbles because of it. 
> Seeing Harry flying straight at him could very well have shaken up 
> a few more "worst memories".

Donna:
Someone else wrote about the bucking broom that Harry sees Snape 
riding as a child, and compares it with Harry's Nimbus that Quirrell 
curses in SS.  

Two things strike me about that memory.  When I first read it, I 
thought that the broom had been cursed and the laughing girl was the 
one who did the cursing. I wondered then if Snape has or had 
an older sister or cousin.  

When I read these posts, I was suddenly reminded of Ron and the twins 
in COS. Ron tells Harry that he's afraid of spiders because one of 
the twins turned his teddy bear into a spider. I think this is 
further evidence for some sort of sibling or close relative being 
mean to young Snape.

Taken with the other evidence you three have presented, there is a 
good possibility that Snape is afraid of flying on brooms. Makes his 
decision to referee the quidditch match (thinking Harry needed 
protection again) pretty courageous.