Clues Convergent

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 134822

"colebiancardi" <muellem at b...> wrote:

> can SOMEONE please explain where, oh, where, in any of the HP books 
> that Snape "loves" Lily?  

zgirnius:
Nowhere. We're all trying to read between the lines. Points in favor 
of the theory that I have come up with, or have seen posted elsewhere:

1) DD tells Harry that Snape was remorseful about telling LV the 
prophecy, and that it led to the deaths of Lily and James. Come on, 
why would he care about James? We see he still harbors hatred of 
Sirius after 16 years, even once he learned Sirius was not a traitor. 
So it must be he regrets Lily's death. (This, I think, is the big 
one. DD knowing this may be a reason he trusts Snape which he did not 
share with Harry).
2) Why was Snape's worst memory his worst? Maybe it's not what 
happened to him, but that during the incident he alienated Lily.
3) Snape does not get along with Harry. One reason to explain the 
animosity is that in addition to looking like James, he is a constant 
reminder that Lily did not choose Snape. And a constant reminder of 
his role in Lily's death. 
4) Snape is always badmouothing James to Harry. We never hear him say 
word one against Lily. The pensive scene is the only exception. Why 
would he not badmouth her as well? Even if she were truly a perfect 
human being, I don't see how that would stop Snape from saying bad 
things about her. Snape is constantly saying bad things about Harry 
which are not true. He ascribes to Harry failings which his father 
may have had, but which Harry really does not.
5) We now know that Lily and Snape were star students in Potions. So 
there is some basis for them to have developed a relationship of some 
sort. Perhaps a friendly rivalry only from Lily's POV. But how might 
that have affected Snape? A nice, pretty, popular, and talented 
witch, being friendly to him and respecting his ability? Pure 
speculation, of course.
6) Petunia (explaining her knowledge of dementors in OotP) explains 
she overheard Lilly speaking about it to "that dreadful boy". It is 
never confirmed that she meant James, Harry assumes that. While 
Petunia might reasonably be expected to call *any* young wizard 
dreadful, maybe it was really Snape. On a friendly visit. The 
description certainly seems to it Snape better...and Lily would not 
have been having a friendly relationship with James Potter before 
their 6th year, more likely only in the 7th. The Pensieve scene takes 
place right during OWLS (end of 5th year).

So it's in the realm of theory and speculation, for sure, but there 
is some evidence on which to build this house of cards...

Personally I aslo wonder why Narcissa's display of maternal concern 
seemed to affect Snape so much. But I think I only feel this way 
becasue I was already leaning towards the Lily theory.