Snape uniting the houses? Lucius a good guy?

[mnaper2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 102589

I'm sure this subject must have come up here at some point but 
couldn't find a link.  But on mugglenet, the topic has come up about 
the historical and mythological background characters' namesakes - 
like Severus, Sirius, Lucius, etc. - and the question is, can those 
historical facts/myths be used to predict where JKR is going with her 
characters?  

I know we can't assume JKR will use namesakes as direct blueprints, 
but she definitely seems to have created some strong parallels thus 
far.  There are some strong ties between Sirius the character and 
Orion's faithful hunting dog, Sirius, who was so loyal to his master, 
that he searched the earth relentlessly for him after his death, and 
was ultimately placed in the heavens to be with his master. The Dog 
Star is considered a symbol of power and steadfastness of purpose. 
All these traits - loyalty, steadfastness of purpose, power - are 
present in JKR's Sirius, whose animagus happens to be a dog. And 
their loyalty led both to being killed, in a sense - the mythological 
Sirius being transformed from body into a constellation and Sirius 
slipping through the veil.  Will we see Sirius in a different form 
somewhere in the books?

Then there's Septimius Severus.  He united the Roman Empire after the 
death of Commodus and execution of Pertinax while it was embroiled in 
civil war.  He was from the Phoenician coast, whose occupants were, 
at one time, reviled by other Romans, and yet he none the less 
managed to become its ruler. His rule was notable b/c of its emphasis 
on jurisprudence and the military - he improved both overall military 
strength for the army and internal morale through a series of pay 
increases and fringe benefits.  He empahsized efficiency and logic 
but was known to have a wide streak of cruelty, as well.  His general 
profile is very, very similar to that of our potions master.

Is this perhaps some foreshadowing for Snape? Will Albus die and 
Snape take over Hogwarts in the subsequent disarray? Could he be the 
one who unites the 4 houses at Hogwarts the way Septimius Severus 
united Rome after a period of civil wars (never losing his trademark 
cruelty of course)?

Also interesting is the story of Lucius from Metamorphoses: he was 
transformed into a "golden ass" by dabbling in magic. He is 
ultimately restored to humanity after having a religious epiphany. I 
always assumed Lucius was evil and would stay that way, but is there 
a chance he could be reformed?