Snape's origins

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 96609

> > Potioncat wrote:
> > I think this theory is as good as any that can be formed from 
the 
> > few details we have about Snape. 
> 
> Lilian:
> Yeah, don't I know it ;-) ... theorizing as ever, what else can 
one 
> do?


Potioncat again:
Keep our fingers crossed that we'll get more information next book! 

> > Potioncat wrote:
> > I do think the greasy hair and grey underwear (and nightshirt) 
have 
> > some other cause than lack of cleanliness.  Partly because they 
> > continue now. 
> 
> Lilian:
> Well, I didn't mean so much lack of cleanliness, but more neglect. 
to 
> be more precise, the grey underwear in Snape's teen years points 
to 
> sloppy washing methods at home.


Potioncat:
I recall my mother-in-law saying that in the old days, children's 
pajamas were grey and only grey.  So I wonder if his underwear was 
grey on purpose as well.  I've also heard of orphanages which use 
grey under clothing because of  the difficulty keeping whites white. 
(Heard this via parents who've adopted overseas.)

Along that line, we're told his nightshirt is grey.  I actually 
missed that detail in the reading until someone else pointed it 
out.  But in this case it was more that it was a grey nightshirt not 
a greyed nightshirt.

snip<< 
> 
> Lilian:
> As far as I can see we don't know that much of the type of spying 
he 
> is doing. If he still does, it seems likely IMO that it has 
changed 
> due to LV's comeback.
> But to give an example from canon, at the end of CoS DD speaks of 
> his 'sources that tell him that LV in currently hiding in a forest 
in 
> Albania'. As the MoM is apparently not outright looking for LV, 
word 
> of LV's hiding hole will come through more fishy types 
of 'sources'. 
> Just the kind of people (or creatures or whatever) you can meet in 
> Knockturn Alley.
>  
Potioncat:
Well, I could see him being a frequent visitor at Knockturn Alley, 
but not actually staying there.  Part of the Slytherin's strong 
drive and ambition which would have him moving on up...

But I think you have some good ideas and certainly ther's no canon 
to disprove them!
Potioncat