Snape's Patronus

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 90677

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Silverthorne Dragon" 
<silverthorne.dragon at v...> wrote:
> 
> {Amanda}
> 
> I submit that Snape probably cannot perform Expecto Patronus. It's 
not that
> I doubt his power or will--but I doubt he has sufficiently happy 
memories.
> 
> 
> {Anne}
> 
> I think I would have to agree....either that, or he has so few, (and
> probably very weak and hard to recall) happy memories that it makes 
it
> difficult if not impossible for him to produce a strong Patronus....
big snip

It seems to me that any powerful wizard, especially one who would 
like to take on the position of DADA, would have to be able to 
produce a strong Patronus.  I realize we have seen a great deal of 
ugliness from Snape and he does not seem to be a particularly happy 
person but that doesn't mean there are not things in his life that 
bring him pleasure.  Harry conjured his very powerful Partronus on 
the side of the lake in POA based on the thought of his godfather, 
and later on the memory of his best friends.  These are not 
really "happy", they are powerfully emotional, but not necessarily 
happy.  I am sure that Snape has memories/people in his life that 
invoke in him the kind of connection Harry feels when he produces his 
Patronus.

Remember, Harry failed to produce anything but silver mist on the 
memories of the most happy times in his life. 

This brings to mind a new thought for me.  It seems that producing a 
Patronus is similar to what was required to expell Voldemort when he 
posessed Harry.  It was the thought of Sirius and how much he wanted 
to be with him that freed Harry, much like it was the need to save 
Sirius at the end of POA and to be with his friends in OotP which 
allowed him to produce his Patronus.  

The Patronus is literally a light in the dark, Is this all Harry 
needs to defeat Voldemort (a proverbial light in the dark not 
necessarily a Patronus)?  

Sue, who started writing about Snape and wound up thinking power of 
light in a dark world.