"revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face"

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 135540


a_svirn wrote:
> I rather think that "sniveller" or "cry-baby" or something in this 
> vein is as obviously generic as "so-and-so stinks". I also think that 
> it is quite possible that Sirius and Co reduced Snape to helpless 
> tears once or twice in their first year. After all we saw him 
enjoying 
> a similar pastime with Kreacher. Not that it makes Kreacher in any 
way 
> a coward, incidentally. 

zgirnius:
I agree with you that 1) "cry-baby" and such are generic insults, and 
2) Snape is *not* a coward. (He may do things which are not the bravest 
possible choice in a given instance, but overall we have definitely 
seen enough risky actions to suppose he is not completely lacking 
courage.)

However, the Marauders had, in theory, many other things they could 
have chosen to use to insult Snape. The greasy hair, the impoverished 
background, the half-blood status, and so on. It seems clear to me that 
they stuck with Snivellus as the insult of choice because that was the 
one which seemed to *really* get under Snape's skin. This is what I 
meant well up-thread when I said courage seems to be an "issue" for 
Snape. I did not mean he lacks it. I meant he values it, but is prone 
to doubt that he lives up to his own expextations in this area.

I feel this is one reason for the pride he sometimes displays regarding 
his double-agent role, it's clearly a dangerous job, it proves he's 
brave to be doing it. And I think it is why Harry's calling him a 
coward at the end of HBP gets to him.