JKR's Edinburgh Festival Q&A is on her website now (under news)

[juli17ptf]

No: HPFGUIDX 110139

Here are the two answers I found most intriguing, and why:

1. Q: Apart from Harry, Snape is my favourite character because he is 
so complex and I just love him. Can he see the Thestrals, and if so, 
why? Also, is he a pure blood wizard?

JKR: Snape's ancestry is hinted at. He was a Death Eater, so
clearly 
he is no Muggle born, because Muggle borns are not allowed to be 
Death Eaters, except in rare circumstances. You have some information 
about his ancestry there. He can see Thestrals, but in my imagination 
most of the older people at Hogwarts would be able to see them 
because, obviously, as you go through life you do lose people and 
understand what death is. But you must not forget that Snape was a 
Death Eater. He will have seen things that
 Why do you love him?
Why 
do people love Snape? I do not understand this. Again, it's bad
boy 
syndrome, isn't it? It's very depressing. [Laughter]. One of
my best 
friends watched the film and she said, "You know who's really 
attractive?" I said, "Who?" She said, "Lucius
Malfoy!"

Julie comments: Notice how JKR didn't actually answer the question 
about whether Snape is pure blood? She says he isn't Muggle born, and 
that his ancestry has been hinted at (at least by the fact that he is 
a Death Eater). But she doesn't tell us that he is pure blood. From 
this non-answer, can we assume Snape is a half blood like Voldemort 
and Harry?

2. Q: Has Voldemort or Tom Riddle ever cared for or loved anyone?

JKR: Now, that's a cracking question to end with—very good.
No, 
never. [Laughter.] If he had, he couldn't possibly be what he is.
You 
will find out a lot more about that. It is a good question, because 
it leads us rather neatly to Half Blood Prince, although I repeat for 
the millionth time that Voldemort is not the half blood prince, which 
is what a lot of people thought. He is definitely, definitely not.

Julie comments: The question of whether V/TR has ever loved anyone 
leads us rather neatly to the Half Blood Prince, sez JKR. But does 
this mean the half blood prince is in some way directly connected to 
V/TR, or does this mean the half blood prince, like V/TR, has never 
loved anyone (or, likely, been loved by anyone)? If it's the former 
than perhaps the HBP is a member of the Riddle family. If it is the 
latter, then the HBP may be one we know has experienced little if any 
love for others--Snape.

Or, could it be, that it is BOTH? Severus Snape, the unloved and 
unlovable, is related to the Riddle family! 

Among other things would explain why Voldemort has been inexplicably 
trusting of and lenient with Snape, as well as the lack of any 
concrete information about Snape's family/ancestry. 

Thoughts on this theory? Has it been advanced before? 

Julie