[HPforGrownups] Re: Why is Slughorn raving about Lily instead of Snape?

[Tim Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 133993

Hi All,

Sweetpea (cute name) said:
<<< I'm very curious about the relationship between Snape and Lily. She
stuck up for him when James was being a bully to Snape. Snapes response
to Lily was that he didn't need her help but still he must have secretly
appreciated that she stick up for him. My pet theory is that Snape had a
secret crush on Lily and is angry at LV for having killed her. If
Dumbledore knew about this (if Snape told him that this was his reason
for turning against LV) then this secret might be why Dumbledore trusts
Snape. >>> 

Yes, it struck me that there was something odd about this bit:

<<< 'Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. He was still in Lord
Voldemort's employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor
Trelawney's prophecy. Naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he
had heard, for it concerned his master most deeply. But he did not know
- he had no possible way of knowing - which boy Voldemort would hunt
from then onwards, or that the parents he would destroy in his murderous
quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother
and father -'
Harry let out a yell of mirthless laughter.
'He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven't you noticed, Professor,
how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?'
'You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realised
how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to
be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned -'>>>

Now it cold be that Snape's remorse is fake, and that Dumbledore misread
him. It could be that Snape felt remorse for James' and Lily's killing,
despite his dislike of James and perhaps because of the Shrieking Shack.
But if his remorse was real, it seems plausible that a large proportion
is down to Lily's death.

Cheers,

Dumbledad.