Fiction!Snape (was (re: Parenting Harry (was: Re: I don't like him much))

[antoshachekhonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 120269


<larg snip of much interesting discussion> 
> Potioncat:
> This is the point I wanted to get to. For all the discussion about 
> why Snape does what he does; For all the arguments about who should 
> change: Harry or Snape; For all the talk about Snape's teaching 
> methods...the real question is: "What is Fiction!Snape's role in 
> this story?"

Antosha:
Good questions! It seems to me that F!S's role is threefold: 1) to take over from Vernon the 
role the wicked stepfather/negative parent--the one who tells you all the things you don't 
want to hear, and against whom you are expected to rebel in order to develop your own 
identity. 2) To introduce smears of grey into Harry's congenitally black-and-white (or red-
and-green) perception of reality. 3) To serve as the perpetual red herring.