Snape and Harry (Re:Snape Theory right here...)

[iris_ft]

No: HPFGUIDX 84786

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sydney" <sydpad at y...> wrote:
(huge snip)
  I'm a root-causes sort of person, and I believe the root of 
> Snape's cruelty is his self-destructiveness.  I think he's someone 
> prone to despair, and Dumbledore is quite right to worry about 
what 
> would become of him if he left Hogwarts.  To be blunt, I think 
> Dumbledore is worried that if released of his duty to Hogwarts, 
> Snape would walk up to Lucius Malfoy at the next Death Eater 
> jamboree and say, "Guess what, genius-- turns out I really WAS 
> spying for Dumbledore.  You guys want a piece of me?"
> 
> Well, that's my theory.  Okay, it's more of a plank with a 
> hankerchief nailed up to it, but it awaits you canon fire...
> 
> Sydney

No canon fire, Sidney! I think you pointed a very interesting aspect 
concerning Snape's personality. Moreover, if he really is self 
destructive, it makes him look like...Harry, who acts in a very 
similar way in OotP (when he tries to get into trouble with Dudley; 
when he provokes Umbridge's grief, when he doesn't want the others 
to help him, etc, etc).               And by the way, look at what 
JKR wrote in GOF, in the Pensieve 
chapter:                                         "Dumbledore placed 
his long hands on either side of the Pensieve and swirled it, rather 
as a gold prospector would swirl for fragments of gold... and Harry 
saw his own face changing smoothly into Snape's, who opened his 
mouth, and spoke to the ceiling, his voice echoing slightly. 'It's 
coming back... Karkaroff's too... stronger and clearer than ever...'"
I always found this scene very enigmatic. Why did Harry change into 
Snape in Dumbledore's thoughts? Why does JKR associate their images 
with gold?
Should we understand that both Snape and Harry are precious to 
Dumbledore; that Dumbledore loves Snape just the same way he loves 
Harry? Maybe he sees them as his spiritual sons.
Or should we consider that there's a strong tie between Snape and 
Harry? Another time, the Pensieve shows the similitude. In OotP, it 
appears that 15 years- old Snape was physically very similar to 
Harry (they both look pinched and unhealthy; they both look sloppy; 
they both are given rough times). Does Snape hate Harry because he 
can recognize himself in the boy? 
And finally, we mustn't forget that they both have a strong tie with 
Voldemort, they both wear a physical mark he gave them. Voldemort, 
formerly known as Tom Riddle. Another strange boy, with strange 
ideas and a hard childhood. Dumbledore took interest in that boy too 
when he was still at 
Hogwarts.                                                            
Dumbledore, Riddle/Voldemort, Snape, and then Harry. Do they compose 
a lineage? Not being "a Snape's expert",I'd like to know if this has 
been debated yet, and would be happy to read your comments.

Amicalement,

Iris