HP and the Half Blood Git

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 105427

In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, message # 105304, "ge25y" <meyerjc16 at u...> 
suggested Snape as the HBP.

I agree.  Many possibilities are intriguing (Lupin, Hagrid, Dumbledore,...) but Snape's 
mystery is already driving the plot.  I posted a theory that Snape's father, and his heritable 
long greasy hair, have already been spotted in the books (post # 96654 & 96813).  If this 
is accurate, his mother would be a muggle, or muggle-born.  (Harry, whose mother is 
muggle-born, was considered a "half-blood" by Voldemort, according to Dumbledore.)  

And while I'm at it, Snape (a fictional character, I know) has been irritating me. Again.  I 
don't understand any better than the next HP fan why such a large number of my fellows 
might want to be sorted into Slytherin.  They did Read the books, right?  But this is not 
what irritates me.  I'm OK with the subtlety of Albus Dumbledore allowing Snape to 
terrorize a generation of students - to their detriment - to no other purpose than the 
possible defeat of Voldemort.  I'm OK with Snape being a jerk.  So long as he stays on his 
page, I love it.  

On the other hand, those who ascribe secret good intentions to the character of Snape 
make my brain hurt and my blood insulin soar worse than a quickly consumed pint of 
Hagendaaz (strawberry).  He's a mean evil jerk for the good of Harry and Neville?  No.  And 
what makes my angst worse is that people who post these ideas are smart and cool.  I 
read and Respect their posts (the analogy is to Hagendaaz strawberry, after all).  

Some might say that a central message in the Septology is that the world is not divided 
into Good People and Death Eaters.  I would agree.  But in the case of Snape, I'll guide that 
point to it's logical conclusion - that the world is not divided into Death Eaters and people 
who aren't Evil Gits.  Snape might not be a Death Eater.  He might be helping Dumbledore.  
He might even die a heroic death in glorious sacrifice for Harry, or some such.  But he Is 
evil.  Not irredeemable (if Tom Riddle can experience forgiveness, who can't?).  But alot 
worse than "not a nice guy".  He's a bad guy.  He might not be a death eater, but that 
doesn't make him good.

And so I hope the HBP is our proud, nasty Potions Master.  Voldemort and Tom Riddle may 
not remain a cardboard Villain, or so I hope.  Snape, on the other hand, is already perhaps 
the most compelling character in the books.  I want to know why.

Caesian