FF: Re: Who does Snape really hate?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 144061

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "radasgat" <radasgat at y...> wrote:
>
> 
> I spent some time alone in a car recently, thinking about the
> interview I read with Rowling and all the messages I've read on-line
> here.  A thought occured to me and I wanted to open it up to discussion.
> 
> 
> Who does Snape hate?  In book one, we meet Snape on the first day of
> class are lead to believe that Snape doesn't like Harry because he is
> "famous".  Implying that Harry is a spoiled brat....
> 
<snip>
> But, Snape's hatred in book 1-5.2 is Snape's perspective; what HE
> percieves is true (that Harry is a famous spoiled brat just like his
> dad).  I have to believe that after the Occulemncy lesson commence, he
> sees that Harry is NOT the spoiled brat that he thought, that he is
> more like than Snape that Snape ever imagined.
> 
> Does Snape get softer on Harry after this point, or harder because he
> knows what a good beating can do for strength of character?
>

Pippin:
I think the person Snape hates is....Snape. For being weak,  ugly,
and unpopular, for wearing his heart on his sleeve and for being 
gullible...and boy is he ever. Gulled by the Marauders, gulled by 
Voldemort, and gulled by the ever so lovely and desperate Narcissa.

So seeing more of himself in Harry probably doesn't improve 
things between them at all, at all. But Harry seeing himself in Snape...

Imaginary dialogue from  Book Seven:
--------
Snape: Come to finish me off, Potter?

Harry: Yeah, well, I'd really, really like to. But seeing as how we're on 
the same side [rescues Snape]

Snape [sneering, as usual] Finally got there, did we?

Harry: [laughs] I don't believe it. I do not believe it. I've just saved your miserable
skin and you're still sneering? What does it take to get through that thick skull of
yours? Tell you what, let's pretend I already know what a worthless excuse for a
wizard I am, okay?

Snape: Worthless? Oh, I do hope not, Potter, not after all I've gone through 
to keep you alive.

Harry: Come off it, Snape. Tell the truth for once. You've been taking it out of me since
my first day of school.

Snape: Well, someone had to.

Harry: Look, I know I'm thick and everything, but why? WHY?

Snape: You fool, Potter! You ignorant, arrogant fool! For years I served 
the Dark Lord, do you think I couldn't see his power in you? And there 
you stood in the Great Hall, waiting to be Sorted, worried you weren't 
magical enough for Hogwarts! And when you were chosen for Gryffindor 
you thought your troubles were over. 

You weren't watching me, but I was watching you. I would have thought the
condition of the House Ghosts might have given you some clue that you
had entered a dark and dangerous world, but you weren't afraid, oh not you.
There you sat, chatting with your new friends, stuffing your face, and all the 
time you were sitting not ten yards away from a man who would have 
given his heart and soul to see you dead. Or worse. I couldn't make you 
fear him. But by heaven, I made  you fear me!

Harrry: Well, Hagrid said Hogwarts was safe.

Snape [staggered]: Hagrid! 

Harry: Er, well, all right,  I was a bit of an idiot, wasn't I? But did you have to make it
your  life's business to frighten a clueless child?--
Proud of yourself, are you?

Snape:Oh, not just you, Potter. And if you thought, if any of you thought 
being a clueless child would shield you from Voldemort, you were mistaken. 
You couldn't afford your innocence. Not if you wanted to live.

Harry: Don't give me that,  you enjoyed it, I know you did!

Snape: Well, I  must admit, I did take pleasure in my work. You wouldn't deny me 
that, surely?

Harry, somewhat at a loss for words: You took pleasure in being a 
sadistic jerk, you, you sadistic jerk!

Snape: Your father  and his friends tormented me for seven years, Potter. What 
would you call them, I wonder?


Harry: Oh, no, Snape. You don't hate me because I'm like them. You hate me
because...I'm like you.

Snape: I...I what? That's absurd!

Harry: I don't think so.  Both halfbloods, both unwanted, both desperate to
fit in and sure we never would, people muttering about us all the time...

Snape: But precious Potter, pure of soul. You weren't tempted, not by the Dark Arts.

Harry: Really? So when I tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on you, I was just kidding,
was I?

Snape: You couldn't have done it, Potter.

Harry: I didn't notice you being willing to let me try. Want me to try now? [menaces
Snape with his wand.]

Snape: You won't do it. You're a Gryffindor.

Harry: Yeah, like my father before me. Listen, Gryffindor lived a thousand years
ago, nobody knows what he was like. It's just a name. D'you think you're so
different from me?

Snape: [whispers] I killed your parents!

Harry, furious: WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH EVERYONE I NEED!
VOLDEMORT KILLED MY PARENTS!

----
Well, it doesn't prove anything, except that JKR is a better writer than I am.
And I don't know if it would satisfy anyone but me. But that's what I'd
like to see, more or less.

Pippin