Sirius Black and Severus Snape brothers?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 112800

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "karenmarie713" <kmj13 at e...> 
wrote:
> Does anyone else think it's possible that Sirius Black and Severus 
> Snape are fraternal twins who, for some reason, were separated at 
> birth?  They're the same age, similar in appearance, even their 
> names are similar. SiriUS, SeverUS, and Sirius had a brother named 
> RegulUS.  Look at the meaning of Snape's name: sever- to cut; to 
> separate.  Also, Sirius came from a family of dark wizards.

Potioncat:
I'll go so far as to say I wouldn't be surprised to discover they 
are closely related. I think they are very similar.  And it seemed 
to me there was some word-play going on about the house belonging to 
Serius. I'm not sure how a separated at birth sort of story could 
play out, though.

I also wonder if the Roman named characters have a  link, or if it's 
just that JKR used a lot of Roman names.  (Albus, Lucius, those you 
mentioned as well.)

As for Severus meaning sever us...I think it is more likely to 
mean "severe" similar to the Roman Emperor who was known for his 
severe tactics (also known for uniting the empire.)

I read somewhere, but cannot confirm, that JKR pronounces it Severe-
us rather than Sever-us.
Potioncat