[HPforGrownups] Snape and Lucius ages Re: Re: "Lapdog" and "snivel"

[Weiss145 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 115300


"It is indeed possible that LM was as politically astute at 16 as at 41 and  
acted as head junior DE talent scout and recruiter, but it's also possible he  
was a hormonal, popularity-obsessed snob, who saw a greasy, little, 
snot-nosed  kid Severus and kept as far away as possible."-Feklar
 
A humble lurker, de-lurking for a bit. 
    I actually think it's quite possible for a sixteen  year old and an 
eleven year old to get along well. It depends on the two people  and how much they 
have in common. Snape may have been a very mature young man,  even at eleven 
and found himself a niche in the older students who also liked to  study. I 
myself as a freshman used to sit with the seniors because I found their  
conversation much more interesting. I was (and still am) a  bookworm type and was a 
bit of a radical thinker in my conservative private  school. Most of my peers 
did not care about freedom for Tibet or about  the importance of organ donation. 
 My older friends were amazing  people and they treated me like an equal. 
Although they respected me, it  was still clear that I was the junior in the 
bunch. I got teased a bit and  treated like a mascot, but it was all in good fun. 
I didn't mind being  called "Freshie" and being told how easy I had it because 
I know my friends  honestly cared about me. I knew that when it came to 
venting about  problems, I could turn to them, but just as important they could and 
 did turn to me.  I also got protected by the Seniors. Someone might  have 
called me a lapdog or their pet, because everyone soon knew not to bother  me or 
face the wrath of the upperclassman. 
Snape might have been getting teased by the Gryffindors, and the  upper level 
Slytherins step in. As Snape stands smugly, knowing he has his  friends 
there, Sirius decides to be a sore loser and call him a lapdog, since  there is 
nothing he can do against fifth and sixth years. I don't  think Lucius was 
actively recruiting for the Death Eaters yet. Maybe he was just  a teenager who 
enjoyed speaking to someone who shared his interests (and yes,  being worshipped 
is always nice).
     I think characters are often flattened  into pigeonholes because we see 
them through Harry's eyes. Snape could be a  very nice person to his friends 
and so could Lucius.  I've read the  debates on Lucius being an abusive father 
and honestly I can see both  sides, although I choose to see Lucius as a 
father who is very hard  on his son, giving him every opportunity he can but 
expecting Draco to  work hard to make the best of them. I think Draco fears his 
father,  but I do think he honestly loves him. When Lucius goes to Azkaban, my 
heart  broke for Draco. I hope no one ever has to go through the pain of  having 
a father arrested and sent to prison, because it is an experience  that can 
break your world into a thousand shards. Yes, Lucius was guilty, but  Draco 
wasn't and the punishment falls on him too. I am curious to see if JKR  puts in 
Draco being teased for having a father in prison and if Snape comforts  hi.
El   


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