More Snape Defense, regarding Snape's childhood. (Long)

[TrekkieGrrrl]

No: HPFGUIDX 122813

Some of the discussions here has made me wonder if Snape is capable of 
making a patronus at all.

To make a patrnus, you must have a very HAPPY memory. And Snape doesn't 
strike me as a man with a lot of happy memories.

That is one thing that is often overlooked when we discuss Snape, and 
Snape's behaviour in general. We all assume that he KNOWS how to behave and 
just don't give a *beep* about doing so.

Well, my postulate is that he's not.

Now, I haven't been am member of this group for long, but it amazes me that 
noone has mentioned more about Snape's childhood.
I find it rather obvious that his own childhood has been the one of an 
abused child. And his behavioral pattern fits this very well.
No wonder Snape hides behind his sarcastic mask. Better not let anyone get 
close to you - that way they can't hurt you!

I don't think he's sadistic in the usual sense of that word either. But 
again it's the typical pattern:People who are beaten as kids are far more 
inclined to slap their own children, and though Im not saying Snape was 
physically abused (though I would very much think so, the pattern even fits 
that of sexual abuse too, though I don't think JKR would ever agree to that, 
it's children's books after all) he was almost certainly mentally abused as 
a child.

Abused children show many "abnormal" patterns in their behaviour. and though 
some may grow up and act as "normal" responsible adults later on, some just 
can't. They do not have the basis for that. And Snape was one of the latter.

Then, when a child like this comes to a boarding school, two things can 
happen, theycan get a better life, surrounded by helping, caring adults, or 
they can become pariahs here too. Now, Judging from his "greying undies" I 
don't see Snape as someone coming from a rich family. Pureblood, most 
likely, but not rich. And even on arrival, he was a "weird" kid, with all 
his dark magic. Add to that a big honker and greasy hair (and some of us 
HAVE hair that looks greasy even with daily washing...) and you have the 
perfect scapegoat. I doubt Snape had many friends in Slytherin too. Noone 
seems to have in any way come to his defenses when the Marauders were 
picking on him at the "upside-down" episode. And int IS canon that it wasn't 
the first time they'd chosen Snape as their favourite victim. Some kids are 
natural victims, often kids from abusive households. I guess wizards can be 
alcoholics too, or be addicted to illegal potions and whatnot. And Snape's 
home might very well have been like that. it DOES fit his behavioral pattern 
as the "victim"

And then comes this "Fhrer" in the shape of Voldemort and all of a sudden 
the underdog gets a chance to get POWER!

WHO can't REALLY blame Snape for grasping that? No it's not a noble and 
ethic thing to do. But it's very REAL and human. A LOT of people did the 
same during World War 2 and became nazis. And of course the nazi parallel to 
Voldie and his deatheaters are so obvious that it almost screams to high 
heaven.

Now the big issue is: WHAT is it that caused Snape to turn around and seek 
Dumbledore? And at the same time made Dumbledore trust Snape 100%? It must 
have been something pretty big. Possibly connected to what happened in GH. 
But we'll have to wait and see.

One of the reasons why Snape is at Hogwarts is, I believe, protection. He's 
not safe outside Hogwarts. And with his obvious skill as a Potions Master, 
he has a plausible reason to stay there. No, he's not an ideal teacher after 
our standards. But again, remember how old fashoined the Wizarding World is. 
Go back 75 years and he would have been a MILD teacher. Add to that that 
he's probably never recieved any formal education in how to teach, and I 
think he does a pretty good job.

~TrekkieGrrrl
(avid Snape defender, in case you didn't know *L*)