Dumbledore, Animagi and animals

[rubyxkelly]

No: HPFGUIDX 90458

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> wrote:
> Sylvia wrote:
> > Thanks, Carol, for bringing up the subject of Snape's patronus 
> and/or 
> > boggart.  I have been wondering about this myself and came to the 
> > same conclusion that the boggart might be LV red in tooth and claw -
>  
> > as good a reason for not giving Snape the DADA job as any - but I 
> > haven't formed any definite idea about the patronus.  Not a snake, 
> > surely.  Anyone got any less conventional ideas?
> 
> Neri now:
> Shouldn't Snape's patronus be a really large bat?
> 
> Just kidding. I don't really believe that vampire thing.
> 
> And in order to execute the patronus you need a happy memory. What 
> would that be for Snape? I can't think of anything, unless it is 
> <yuck> the day James died, or the day Sirius died.
> 
> Or was it Slytherin's seventh quidditch cup in a row?
> 
> Neri
 Arrggh unfortunatly I can't find the start of this thread "much fake sobbing"-sniff, sniff-anyone have a fake tissue? ANYway...
Snape may have happy memories we no nothing about, and unfortunatly I don't know if we'll ever find out his Patronus (unless some future plot point revolves around it).
I see no reason why it wouldn't be a snake-in many, many cultures, snakes are symbols of eternity, healing, divine messangers, wisdom, knowledge (especially "secret" knowledge), guardians, bringers of dreams and creative inspiration, and so on. Even in Abrahamic culture they weren't looked on as merely baddies (like the serpent in Eden, which wasn't a real snake but a form assumed by the ultimate You-Know-Who!). In fact, I'm sure you've all seen the modern medical profession's symbol of the Cadueus (staff) of Hermes, which winged with two twining serpents. In ancient times, Apollo, who was the god of medicine, was believed to send doctors of that time inspiration to heal by sending Hermes-a dream involving snakes was looked on as a sign of recovery. Asnake swallowing its tail was/is the sign of eternity in many religions and cultures, while snakes were used to guard many places used as cold-storage for food-in fact, my father talks about visiting his grandparents back in the 1930s at a farm which had no indoor plumbing, let alone electricity or running water. There was a spring-house not too far away from the main house; there was (suprise!) a little stone building with a stream running through, which was always cold, where milk, cream, butter, eggs, and various other food requiring cold storage was kept. When visiting, one of the chores he disliked was retrieving something from the spring-house since it was inhabited by a large black snake (not poisonous, but still scarey to a little kid!), which served quite nicely to keep rats and mice away from the food there. (There were cats too , but their territory was the barn and feed sheds, as well as the cellars-WARM places!).I imagine this is still a common practice in many places.
Another thing that springs to mind is from the New Testament, where, when speaking to the disciples of evangelizing, Jesus advises them to "be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves". Dragons, which are sometimes called "Great serpents" or "Great wyrms" are also symbols of good fortune, wealth, divine blessing, and power in many places too, especially the East. Therefore, snake or dragon (Slytherin or not) could be very reasonable Patroni.
Then there's the possibility Severus happy memory might involve his mother. If so, it could be something feline-cats being reknowned (mother cats, anyway!) as being very concious of their young and very ferocious in defense of them. Cats are also nocturnal, generally quiet-to-silent in movement (except when making swooping leaps like my own just did into the window!) Siad feline could be either either a  housecat, or one of their large, wild variety.  
A happy memory could involve Albus Dumbledore-who has faith in him now, and who treats him with affection (someimes amused, sometimes with gentle reproof, sometimes obviously anxious about him, defending him to Harry and no doubt others over the years-and I'd guess this began when Severus arrived at Hogwarts as an 11-year-old child who by then was probably emitting an aura of need which Dumbledore would have picked up. If DD was the stimulus, the aforesaid possible feline Patronus could have been (heeheehee) a lion! Or, a bee-another animal atrributed with magical power.
Or, if a bat is so unthinkable-why not a bird? Ravens, vultures, other large birds of prey; all known to be intelligent animals of silence and speed (and swoopy) who are noted for caring for their young. Or-if it was his mother-a dove (yes, more giggling on my part! Even tho' it could fit). 
Then there's the "romance" angle-since JKR was so startled by being asked if Snape would have a romance that she seems to practically have admitted that he's either married or was, it could be any of the animals known for faithfulness to their mates-like, say (AHAHAHA!!) WOLVES - OH, but I'd LOVE to see THAT one! :D :D
Also, does anyone else think that once young master Severus had discovered his most despised fellow-students were animagi, HE would not rest until beoming one himself? Some of the possibilities for Patrni could serve for that too (ok, maybe not becoming a dragon!). But a cat, a raven/owl/crow, a snake-heck, anything that might not be noticed as being out-of-the-norm, seem possible & might involve spying, too.
Kat(rxk)