ootp, Snape questions, and crucio question

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 62510

> Lynn:
> 
> For the first question, I wonder if perhaps one reason Snape is so 
> harsh with Neville is because that's how Snape was while at 
> Hogwarts.  It would certainly make sense if Snape came from a 
> background as horrid as that one snippet of memory revealed.  Snape 
> may certainly have known a lot about the Dark Arts but that 
wouldn't 
> necessarily mean that he had the confidence to apply them.  It may 
> well be that the reason Snape fell in with the Death Eaters is that 
> for the first time he did have some power in his life.
> 


It has been submitted that Sirius, hardly an objective observer, 
exaggerated Snape's abilities. I also tend to think Snape talked 
bigger than he really could do as a way of trying to be impressive.


> As for question #2, I think Harry blames Snape because of all of 
> Snape's taunting of Sirius.  Harry may feel that Sirius would have 
> stayed behind if Snape hadn't been constantly taunting Sirius about 
> the fact that he was sitting in hiding while everyone else was 
> risking their lives.  All of this isn't Snape's finest moments.  
> Snape knows that Sirius is under orders to stay at the house and 
> Snape certainly knows why.  Snape knows by now that Sirius was 
> innocent and was in Azkaban as an innocent man.  He knows what 
> discovery would mean for Sirius and yet he can't let go of his 
hatred  for James and Sirius and he certainly ignores Dumbledore's 
wishes  that he and Sirius get along.  Snape could have shown himself 
the 
> bigger man in this relationship and he failed miserably.  His 
> continued hatred of Harry just because Harry is James' son does 
> nothing other than make me more disgusted with him.  He complains 
> about James' arrogance and bullying ways and yet, he is now exactly 
> what he complains about with James.  
> 


I think Harry is latching onto Snape because he feels it would soil 
Sirius' memory to accept Snape, Sirius' biggest rival. I think this 
feeling will ultimately pass.

But what you say about Snape is accurate.

Just as Harry has been confronted with evidence and testimony that 
Snape is on the side of the light and working in his best interest 
and chosen to still hate Snape, Snape has been confronted with 
evidence that Harry does not possess James' arrogance (at 15), does 
not have a tendency to bully and is a bright student, and yet he 
still tortures Harry on general principle.

In other words, both of them are stubborn mules, but you know what? 
Snape is the adult in this scenario, and while Snape has obviously 
had a hard life, I'd like to see if it compares to life at Privet 
Drive and having Voldemort bounce around in your head.

My point is that Harry has turned out to be a generally decent kid, 
in spite of everything. And given the upbringing he had, one would 
think Lily the Filthy Mudblood and James the Arrogant Bastard had 
some good genes somewhere, hmmm, Severus?

People CAN grow up and change and regret the person they once were.

Darrin
-- Would hate to think the sins I committed as a 15-year-old would 
mark me for the rest of my life.