vampire snape

[koinonia02]

No: HPFGUIDX 125355


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com

"snipsnapsnurr" (message 125348):

> The latest technique seems to have something to do with >the idea 
> that there is no clear definition of who is or is not a >vampire 
> in the Potterverse. Guess what? As I recall there is not only no 
> clear definition, there is no mention of vampires at all in any of 
> the books. 

"K":

Actual vampire book references are found in messages 124998 and 
125012. I'd also like to know how in the world you could forget the 
vampire essay Lupin assigned in PoA?  ;-)

 
"snipsnapsnurr":

> Muggles have legends about many things in the Potterverse. We have 
>a vague awareness of things like giants, mermaids, centaurs, 
>phoenixes (phoenices?), elves, werewolves, shapeshifters, etc.-- 
>even witches and wizards themselves. Our muggle legends about these 
>wizard realities are garbled and wildly inaccurate. The muggle 
>vampire legends are simply another example of this.


"K":

Muggles might not be aware of the elves, werewolves, giants, 
mermaids, etc., but the wizarding world is. Vampires are a part of 
that world also.


"snipsnapsnurr":

> The character who conforms most closely to muggle vampire legend 
>so far is the headmaster of Durmstrang. He is not identified as a 
> vampire though. He is a death eater. 


"K":

Ah, but does it have to be one or the other? Don't confuse what a 
person is (vampire, werewolf, giant, elf, etc.) with their actions 
(choosing to be a DE). Even a muggle can be a DE.
_____________________________________________________________________

Question:
Apart from Harry, Snape is my favourite character because he is so 
complex and I just love him. Can he see the Thestrals, and if so, 
why? Also, is he a pure blood wizard?

JKR:
Snape's ancestry is hinted at. He was a Death Eater, so clearly
he is no Muggle born, because Muggle borns are not allowed to be 
Death Eaters, except in rare circumstances.
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/news_view.cfm?id=80
_____________________________________________________________________


"snipsnapsnurr":

> I believe that muggle vampir legends are just garbled accounts of 
> what would be called death eaters in the Potterverse.


"K":

Well, muggles might have a garbled account of vampires but the 
wizarding world doesn't. 

There are books on vampires, they are in the Black Forest, they are 
studied, the kids believe garlic will ward them off, they have waxy, 
white skin, there are vampire hunters, Rita Skeeter wants them 
stamped out, Hermione reads a book on vampires, Hagrid meets one in 
a 
pub in Minsk and Harry believes an answer on the O.W.L. test had to 
do with vampires. Plus, the Centaurs object to them.


But maybe we should think about vampires and DE's. How about this 
little chat between Seamus and Thomas:
_____________________________________________________________________

'Wonder what they'll give us next year?' said Seamus Finnigan 
gloomily. (concerning DADA instructor)

'Maybe a vampire,' suggested Dean Thomas hopefully.
pos/ch 22/pg 313/uk
_____________________________________________________________________

"K":

The next year Barty Crouch Jr. was the DADA instructor. So? Was 
Barty Jr. a vampire? He was a DE and maybe he was a vampire.

Rita Skeeter attended at least one of the DE trials and Rita wants 
to stamp vampires out. Why is that? What does she have against 
vampires?

"Last week she (Rita) was saying we're wasting our time quibbling 
about cauldron thickness, when we should be stamping out vampires! 
ch 10-pg 147-gof-us

Yes, vampires are mentioned in the books and I do believe they will 
play a role. Personally, I would love to see them and yes, I would 
love for Snape to be a half-vampire. However I agree with Joe in 
SoFla concerning Snape (message 125236):


~*If he isn't, no big whoop.*~

"K"