Vampire/Half Vampire/Schvampire -was all the other vampire Snape stuff

[arcum42]

No: HPFGUIDX 88557

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...>
wrote:
> 
> Now it won't make much difference to me if JKR comes up with 
> some other explanation for Snape's vampire-like characteristics, 
> but I do insist that such  an explanation exist and be coherent. 
> Red herrings have to lead *somewhere*.  

Of course an explanation exists. I just don't think most of the
characteristics in question need more explanation then being
direct consequences of Snapes personality. I see him as being
somewhat introverted, and passionate about one thing - potions. 

I'd say that you don't see him outside often because he usually is 
inside doing research or working on new potions, and that
often, while working on a potion, he will get so involved that
he misses meals, and neglects his personal hygene and comfort
(to the point of, say, not lighting a fire until he finishes what he
is doing.)

His cloak falls under a certain love of drama, and the ability to
make a flamboyant entrance & exit...
> 
> If there is no hidden vampire at Hogwarts, then I want to know 
> why vampires are mentioned in all five of the books and both 
> school books. Why  has JKR gone out of her way to assure  us 
> that the Hogwarts Elves can accommodate special diets? Why, 
> though she's emphasized that most wizards cannot easily alter 
> their appearance,has she made a positive exception for "fangs"?

Because there likely will be a vampire visiting at some point.
Quirrell claims to have had an encounter with a vampire in
Romania. Charlie has been repeatedly mentioned as being
in Romania, and is even working for the Order there now.
I rather expect Charlie to show up at Hogwarts with a 
vampire in tow at one point or another...
 
> Why has she taken such care not to show us Snape in the 
> sunlight, except for one occasion when he was in obvious 
> discomfort? 

Because he's usually inside, working with potion components
that really shouldn't be exposed to direct sunlight? (Why else
would they be stored in the dungeons?)

> Snape's an enthusiastic Quidditch fan, so why 
> should he be wearing a "very grim smile" when his team is 
> going for the Final?
>
Well, the Gryffindors are walking on the pitch when this is
mentioned, including one Harry Potter, looking exactly like 
his father in Quidditch gear, with the difference in eye color 
not obvious at a distance. His mind is obviously flashing back 
to another era, and another Potter.

Besides, Snape is not known for enthusiastic smiles. "Snape
beamed down at the Slytherins from the first row, a
twinkle in his eye" would be totally OOC. His canon smiles
to date appear to be: A very grim smile, a sneering smile, 
a tight-lipped smile, an unpleasant smile, a twisted smile, 
an odd, twisted smile, and a horrible smile. 

He's not winning "Most charming smile" anytime soon.

> I do think it's interesting that the anti-vampire contingent has
said 
> their feelings about this are so strong because thinking of Snape 
> as a vampire would significantly change the way that they 
> perceive him. Could JKR devise a stronger illustration of the 
> insidious power of preconceived ideas?

Doing it twice to the same character seems overkill, though.
If anything, making Snape be part vampire would weaken his
character. Then we could blame all of the bad parts of Snapes
character on his vampire side.

If someone is a vampire, it  should be someone who would 
be more interesting as a vampire. Olivander? Or perhaps 
Harry himself? ("Don't be stupid, you haven't got fangs... 
you were lying in bed, you weren't attacking anyone...)

--Arcum, who honestly wasn't planning on posting to this
thread