Snape's biggest fear/Person coming to magic late in life

[pippinthehobbit4]

No: HPFGUIDX 134742

Hey,

I don't post here very often as I never really see much need with so 
many great theories and ideas being thrown around but I don't believe 
I have seen the subject of Snape's biggest fear mentioned since HBP 
in detail, so I thought I would share my theory. I believe that 
Snape's biggest fear is people using his own magic against him.

The first clue to this is looking back at Snape's worst memory. For 
the longest time I have been trying to figure out what made this 
memory worse than so many other horrors we can imagine were in 
Snape's past. (Being that he was a DE) In book six we learn that the 
spell James used on him, is the spell Snape himself created! I 
couldn't fathom how angry I would be if my worst enemy used my magic 
against me. 

This is confirmed in the following scene: 

"Sectum-!"
"Snape flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again; but 
Harry was mere feet away now and he could see Snape's face clearly at 
last: He was no longer sneering or jeering; the blazing flames showed 
a face full of rage. Mustering all his powers of concentration, Harry 
thought, Levi-
"No Potter!" screamed Snape. There was a loud bang and Harry was 
soaring backward, hitting the ground hard again, and this time his 
wand flew out of his hand.


"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented 
them-I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, 
like your filthy father, would you?" [pg 603-604 HBP US Edition]

Notice how Snape didn't get all that angry when Harry tried to use 
Sectumsempra but the minute he went to utter the spell James Potter 
had used against him, Snape lost it. It was too close to what Jk 
Rowling calls Snape's worst memory. 

There are very few times in the book that we see Snape drop that 
cold, calm demeanor and three of them are all linked to this. Finding 
out Sirius got away in POA, Harry seeing his worse memory and the 
above quoted scene. 

Also to back this point up, you can just look at Snape's character. 
One thing we know Snape wants and needs is recognition for whatever 
he does. Since Lupin didn't mention that Snape invented these spells 
(and I can't imagine James using a spell that he knew was created by 
Snape) we can assume he never got credit for them. Being embarrassed 
with a spell you created by a boy you hate in front of a crowd of 
your peers while none of them know it was your hard word that allowed 
your enemy to even hex you? I can see why it would be such a 
horrifying moment for him.



Secondly, I wanted to bring up the question of the person who came 
into magic late in life. I have mentioned my opinion of this at 
Fiction Alley but am curious enough about it to also bring it up 
here. HP fans are known for over analyzing, I do it myself all the 
time. But could the person who comes into magic late in life be as 
simple as being Merope? We are told by Dumbledore that she couldn't 
do magic until she left the Gaunt house and her father also calls her 
a squib.

Just a thought.

-Lasplx-