Lusting After Snape

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 129348

> Julie says:
 However, I don't think Dr. House and Snape are competely
> equatable on this issue, because we do see glimmers of House's
> humanity beneath his very snarky exterior. We see precious little
> beneath Snape's exterior. 

Ginger:  I snipped away all but this bit.   

Snape's snarkiness had me amused, his wit won me over, but it was his 
humanity that clinched it.  Think back to when Ginny was taken into 
the chamber.  Snape's reaction was to "tightly grip the back of a 
chair" and then get on with the business at hand.

Underneath, he cared.  He physically betrayed himself by gripping 
that chair, but that one line changed my view of the character.  He 
is not one who lets feelings get in the way of what must be done, but 
he has those feelings.  He usually only lets his feelings out when he 
loses it completely (think Shrieking Shack and aftermath), but they 
are there.  He is just so controlled otherwise that they don't show.  

This is important for him.  We know he was at one time a spy for DD.  
If he is truely spying now, as the text seems to hint, keeping his 
feelings under wraps is conducive to his survival and his success.

As one who cries the second my anger boils over (it's either that or 
hit someone), I envy his cool control of himself.  In a battle, 
feelings can get in the way, even get one killed.  Self-control and 
self-mastery are vital, and I think that's what he is trying to teach 
Harry.  

Whatever the final showdown between Harry and LV entails, I would bet 
money that it will not be fair.  His encounters with LV so far 
haven't been.  Harry will not be able to submit a petition for a 
release from battle with anyone.  He will just have to grit his teeth 
and get on with it.  Cooly and sensibly.  Not with the rashness that 
feelings can cause if they get in the way.

One of Harry's greatest assets is his ability to care and feel.  This 
can be one of his greatest weaknesses if it is not controlled.  Snape 
realizes this.  Note the whole "fools who wear their hearts on their 
sleeve" speech during the Occlumency lessons.  

Harry has already been guilty of letting his feelings get in the way 
in OoP by going to the MoM despite logical warnings.  I think of 
Anikin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Attack of the Clones when they 
were facing Count Dooku.  Kenobi started to give a strategy for 
fighting, but was interrupted by the rash Anikin "I'm going in now".  
This haste cost Anikin his arm, and they lost the battle.

It is this kind of rashness that Harry needs to avoid.  He can't stop 
his feelings, nor should he, but he needs to control them.  Snape has 
not mastered this completely (see the SS incident and when he finds 
Harry in his penseive), but he knows the importance of it.

As always, the preceding was my opinion only.  All are free to 
disagree and dispute.  Or agree and, um, pute.

Ginger, who really needs to get out and see Revenge of the Sith.