Harry's story , NOT Snape's (was Re: "An old man's mistakes")

[msbeadsley]

No: HPFGUIDX 139036

>> msbeadsley wrote:
>> are good, healthy romantic  interests or role models. Whether 
>> or not Snape and/or Draco end up on the side of the light, 
>> they're STILL not good romantic interests or role models.

> Merry Kinsella wrote: 
> You know, really good point, and I kind of missed it
> myself when JKR said it.  Snape could well be on the
> side of good without being a healthy or viable
> romantic interest at this point.

Thanks. At this point, I'm counting on that being the case. ;-)

> Anyhow, the "love story" that mosts interests me where
> Snape is concerned is what I perceive to be his
> platonic love with Dumbledore.  Possibly the only
> healthy experience of love in his life, and a mere
> first step toward any other kind.  Sort of a parental
> need fulfilled, late in life.

You know, that's interesting, because the "Snape was loved, Voldemort
wasn't, Snape's somewhat more culpable" interview bit had me going in
the direction of mother-love and infant development/caregiver bond:
Severus had it, Tom didn't. But one COULD interpret it differently,
as, "Dumbledore loved Snape and Snape killed him," whereas, since no
one ever loved Voldemort, he COULDN'T kill the person who loved him. I
really don't think this is where it's going, but it's a thought.

> Even though, when I read some comments about Snape the
> Byronic, brooding hero who needs somebody to convince
> him he can be loved romantically, I think on Snape,
> who had no trouble telling Hermione he "saw no
> difference" when her teeth grew to her collarbones,
> even though Snape himself is no oil painting.  When I
> consider the myriad romantic Snape fanon out there, I
> sometimes think about some noble woman patiently
> engaging Snape and convincing him she loves him, only
> to have him say "No thanks."  And mean it.  Not
> because he feels unworthy, or can't trust.  But
> because whoever it is doesn't meet his standards.

Snape isn't just inherently unattractive. The "greasy hair" bit we
have been interminably reminded of is an indicator, IMO, that he truly
and emphatically disdains physical vanity. (We are not told that his
inattention to his toilette extends to smelling.) That "I see no
difference" crack is, I think, incredibly spiteful and inappropriate
on Snape's part, but it's like he's playing to the Slytherin crowd. I
also wonder if there is an element of self-loathing there, in that he
may see Hermione's teeth as he sees his own hooked nose: something
that shouldn't matter but still does. In that case, part of his
impetus for saying what he does may be a leaning in the direction that
looks don't matter. But it's gone way beyond appearance: Hermione
isn't even going to be able to feed herself. At least Snape doesn't
try to prevent Hermione from leaving and going to Madame Pomfrey. It
is interesting that Hermione takes advantage of the situation to have
her teeth more (or less, I should say) than restored to their original
state. It makes me just a hair less sympathetic. Not that she
shouldn't have taken advantage; but she wasn't so crushed by the
incident that she let the chance go by, either; good for her!

> I always think it would be really something - but
> awfully likely - for somebody to see the romantic
> potential in Snape and have him shoot her down because
> she doesn't cut it for him.  That's not something that
> crosses the minds of a lot of romantics who have
> targeted Snape for emotional rescue or sexual healing.

I can easily imagine Snape's eyes glittering at some romantically-
inclined female, attractive or not, just before he opens his mouth to
let something truly scornful (but possibly subtle enough to pass for
"No, thanks") fall out. People keep talking about his "bad boy"
allure, but I think there's something else going on: Snape would have
to be grateful, wouldn't he, to any woman who'd have him? He couldn't
possibly be a rejection-risk. Heh, heh. Yeah, right. JKR said
something like, "Who would want Snape in love with them?" as if the
notion gave her the willies--and it's possible that she is speaking
for Snape as well as herself. We have seen so little of the man behind
the mask that the idea of loving him is ludicrous, IMO. (Another
alluring quality: he is soooo mysterious; anything hidden that
thoroughly MUST be worth having, right?) And we have no idea what kind
of woman would appeal to him, except that I suspect he'd value
competence, creativity, courage, and honesty, from the glimpses we may
have gotten of his true character. (I can certainly imagine him having
yearned after Lily, based on these.)

Sandy aka msbeadsley