Why do we call Snape "greasy git' and what other names can we call him. WAS

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 144513

> Valky:
> I tend to see Snivellus as more likely to make it *harder* for
> Harry to forgive Snape than easier. When the origin of the name
> Snivellus is revealed it will not vindicate Snape as the
> completely innocent victim, I am sure. Harry will 
> recognise "Snivellus" as well, because he will look exactly like
> the man who advocated for Harry's expulsion in second year, and
> wore many disctinct faces nice pleasant and polite ones for those
> who would benefit him and a sneer for anything else held to be 
> beneath him. 

Jen: Valky's back! (Big wave). First, I'll take your word on what 
Snivellus means as I've never heard the word prior to HP. And I 
don't doubt James et. al. saw Snape in the negative way you describe.

Betsy's comments were the springboard for my thoughts, but not the 
entire basis. I'm not even certain we'll hear more about the origin 
of 'Snivellus'. I was thinking of JKR's tendency to give us more 
information about a character when we least expect it, information 
that typically counters something we, and more importantly Harry, 
view as fact up to that point. 

The scenes Harry saw of Snape's life during the Occlumency lessons, 
and especially the Pensieve scene, did inspire Harry to identify 
with Snape for a moment. I'm suggesting there will be more along 
those lines. 

At this point Harry seems to hate Snape pretty vehemently; I'm not 
certain what *more* hatred would do for the story. Perhaps that's my 
personal preference as I'd like to see the reversal now when Harry's 
feelings for Snape are at their nadir.

Valky:
> In all I don't think Jo is setting Snape up to become entirely
> pathetic in Harry's eyes and especially not by revealing the
> source of the name Snivellus. I feel confident to guarantee that
> it won't be so easy to pity Snivellus and Harry will hate and does 
> already hate him as much as his father and Sirius did. Mark my
> words. <g>

Jen: No, no, not 'entirely pathetic', Snape won't be a character 
whose undisputed nobility is waiting to be revealed if only Harry 
looks behind the right curtain <g>. Just enough information for 
Harry to identify with is all I'm saying. JKR said the hinge for the 
last half of the story is Dumbledore's speech about choosing between 
what is right and what is easy. I believe Harry will get to see 
information about Snape's choices, when he chose the easy path and 
when he chose the right path, and there will be compelling 
information that might change Harry's mind about certain aspects of 
Snape.

I think it likely Harry will even see Snape faced with some of the 
same choices Harry has been faced with, and enough information will 
be revealed to show why Snape chose the wrong path while Harry chose 
the right one. One example that springs to mind is Harry's intense 
anger towards Dumbledore at the end of OOTP. Given a couple of weeks 
to think things over and take in the enormity of everything 
Dumbledore has revealed to him, Harry was able to regroup and grow 
into 'Dumbledore's man through and through'. Mark my words <g>, the 
Prank and Dumbledore's handling of the Marauder's afterward were a 
pivotal point that turned Snape away from Dumbledore and toward LV.

Jen