Snape's Stubbornness

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 127030

Bonnie wrote:

> How can someone hold a grudge for sooooo long?  There's got to be 
> more to it than that.  It doesn't make sense.  

Julie says:
  I makes enough sense to me, given Snape's personality. Some people
hold grudges their entire lives. Think of family members who don't speak
to each other for 20 or 30 years, let alone mere schoolmates like Snape
and Sirius. (Though there may yet be a family connection revealed 
between Snape and Sirius.)

Bonnie:
> 
> I don't trust Snape for one minute.  His stubbornness and meanness to 
> the students, Harry in particular is inexcuseable.  Someone so mean 
> minded cannot to my mind be a "good guy".  I don't know why DD trusts 
> Snape.  JKR, I hope, will come up with something believable; but I 
> think it's a very long shot.  

Julie:
  Snape is pretty mean when he wants to be. But the Snape/Sirius
thing is definitely two-sided. Even though Sirius knows Snape is on
the side of good (we're assuming), he doesn't let up on Snape either.
The two just hate each other. It happens, even between otherwise
"good" people. 

Bonnie:
> 
> 
> Looking at the problem from another angle, why does Snape trust DD?  
> If Snape really believes as he seems to, why does he trust DD when DD 
> so obviously trusts Harry?

Julie:
  That's one question I'm most curious about! Not only why DD trusts 
Snape, but why Snape trusts DD. I fear we may not find out until book
Seven, but whenever we do, I think it will explain a lot.

Bonnie:
> 
> Snape's whole attitude is a great mystery to me and I can't figure out how 
> it can possibly work out.  Whether Snape turns out to be a bad guy or a good 
> guy, I will have a million questions.
> 

Julie:
  I have to trust that JKR will answer a number of those questions
satisfactorily. At least enough so that we better understand both 
DD and Snape's motivations in trusting each other. No doubt there
will still be some questions left in the end, but there always are, 
especially for a character as complex as Severus Snape.

Julie 


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