[HPforGrownups] Why ole Snapey is(n't) a vamp (or old, either!)

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 88229

> Now me, Marianne:
> Me, too, but just because there have been so many descriptions of bat-
> like swooping that it seems just a tad over the top.  Plus, how would
> that advance the story?  Snape as another being looked down upon by
> wizard society, like werewolves, elves, giants, etc.?  It seems like
> overkill to me.

Ali:
Agreed.  It's way over the top and unnecessarily pointless.  Combine this
with what Kneasy said - JKR cheating by presenting a vampire with no
typically accepted vampiric traits - and I'd say that pretty much sums up my
personal reasoning for why I do not think that Snape is a vampire.  While I
accept that JKR is the writer and she is fully within her powers to make
Snape a vampire, I really think that she wouldn't pull such a deus ex
machina styled trick.  I think she's a much better writer than that.

> Marianne:
> I sure hope we get this info.  I'm not entirely convinced that Snape
> is good, just that he's chosen not to throw his lot in with Vmort and
> his merry band of DEs.  I'm betting that we will find out that Snape
> turned to the "good" side simply because he was smart enough to hedge
> his bets. As Phineas Nigellus says, "We (Slytherins) will always
> choose to save our own necks."
     < snipped reasoning >

I never thought of that before, but I think I could fully see how that would
be possible.  In fact, I like to think it may even be a distinct
possibility.  After all, it fits Snape's profile that he is neither
inherently good nor bad; he just has a wonderful sense of self-preservation.
To be sure, I wouldn't put it past JKR to completely mislead us about Snape,
but until other evidence surfaces, I think I'll be supporting this idea.

~Ali, who feels hopelessly lost for attempting to jump into the
Vampire!Snape debate