[HPforGrownups] Clarification of who is HBP (was: The Potions Book: Is Snape *really* the HBP)

[d.]

No: HPFGUIDX 133277

D. wrote:
> >  Have you notice
> > there're many aspects of Snape's life mirror Tom Riddle's life?
> > Maybe Tobias Snape was a poor, low class man if Snape's
> > house was at muggle ghetto/industrial area. And Eileen
> > lost her magic just like Tom's mother due to some distress,
> > the glimpse into their family life isn't pretty (Snape's
> > dad yelling at a cowering Eileen and crying Severus).
> > 
> > So Snape had no money for new schoolbook but using
> > Eileen's old school stuffs.

Alina wrote:
> Harry noticed that too, remember at the end of the book he himself
> thinks of how Snape's life parallels Voldemort's and gladly latches on
> to it as an extra reason to hate Snape (as if he needs an extra by
> this point, after all, unlike many fans me included he doesn't think
> DD was in on his own murder). In fact, he uses it as an example of
> DD's fallibility. 
> "...he's just like Voldemort. Pure-blood mother, Muggle father ...
> ashamed of his parentage, trying to make himself feared using the Dark
> Arts, gave himself an impressive new name - *Lord* Voldemort - the
> Half-Blood *Prince* - how could Dumbledore have missed -?"

We also found out Voldemort's birthday was Jan 1st, also a Capricorn 
like Snape (Jan 9th), so both were the "Mid Winter, Saturn, tragic lost 
in young life" figure Trelawney mistaken Harry for in GOF. And of course
both wanted to teach DADA.

So what's the significant of Snape having disturbing similar background
and upbringings as LV? The most obvious and straightfoward conclusion
(as Harry did) was that "OMG Snape is the next Dark Lord!!!" Which
doesn't make sense as 'obvious' and 'straightfoward' just don't sit
well with JKR's writings for Snape.

Personally I think part of the Lord Voldemort <-> Half-Blood Prince mirror
purpose was the redemption for Dumbledore. Most of us only focus on 
Snape's side, but what about for DD?  Maybe Dumbledore is redeeming 
his failing for Tom Riddle through Snape, but trusting him. Here we have 
another genius boy who most likely had a difficult upbringings and as 
damaged as Tom. He was lonely, friendless, bullied, nasty and a thirst to be 
recognize for his amazing talent and feeling special. When he switched 
side, DD taken Snape in as a second chance for *DD* himself, redeeming
that *HUGE* mistake he had for not recognizing and doing anything
to stop the corruption of Tom Riddle.

That's why I think Snape is DD's man, he's loyal, making that diffcult
moral choice to do the *RIGHT* thing. DD is right in his trust, he 
redeem himself through Snape.

> One thing I find interesting. Right after the abovecited paragraph,
> Harry goes on to think how he himself was taken in by the HBP "in
> spite of the increasing nastiness of those scribbled spells..." It
> made me wonder, because I didn't notice any increasing nastiness
> really. Up until Sectumsempra, all of the non-potions improvement
> spells seemed to me the same kind of stuff the Weasely twins created.
> Do you think it's just Harry exhibitting 20/20 hindsight?

I didn't notice any increasing nastiness either, except the BANG with 
Sectumsempra. It's probably another case of JKR's lazy (and somewhat
cheating) writing style, she kept rely on 'telling' by inserting Hermione's 
warning dislike of the Prince and noting him "not-so-nice", but as a 
reader I don't see how she came to that conclusion.

D.