Snape in love? Snape's loyalities?

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 142640

Zehms wrote:
> Was Snape "in love" with her, I don't know...and I know many fans
> cringe at the thought, but what would sway DD's opinion about Snape
> more than a repentance story based on 'love'?

Bart:
One of the major things that pushed me into thinking that love for Lily 
was Prof. Snape's major motivation was the theme of love being the 
strongest magic. Also, use of Lily to control Snape may well have been 
Voldemort's motive in initially sparing her life.


Zehms:
> I know many fans point to Snape calling Lily a "filthy little
> Mudblood" in OOTP, however, I would suggest as socially inept as
> Snape is he was acting out as a elementary school child who has a
> crush on a little girl, calling Lily a name to deflect the fact that
> he 'likes' her.

Bart:
And, remember, they were 15 at the time. 15 is probably the most 
confused age.


Zehms:
> I think Professor Snape is JKR's most complex character. I think
> Snape has become a perpetual red herring throughout the series (and
> after book 6 this trend continues), primarily because even when he
> saves or helps Harry, Hermione, Ron, or a member of the order his
> demeanor is so, well repulsive. His loathing of a character we all
> love, Harry Potter, makes Snape as a character difficult to like, on
> top of that he is rude an hurtful to Hermione, and he relentlessly
> torments loveable Neville Longbottom-quite truthfully he is VERY EASY
> TO HATE.

Bart:
But love for Lily is a reason why Snape's feelings about Harry are so 
complex. Lily would not have died if it weren't for Harry (consider, for 
example, in Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Freddy, Scrooge's 
nephew, is continually rebuffed by Scrooge, as Srooge's beloved sister 
died giving birth to Freddy, and Scrooge never forgave him). And, even 
worse, Harry resembles Snape's successful rival for Lily's affections. 
Yet, he has Lily's eyes, and is all that remains of her, and, if Harry 
dies, then Lily's sacrifice is rendered meaningless. In the meantime, 
Harry's continued presence is a constant reminder to Snape of what he 
lost, which is why, although he does not want to see Harry dead, he 
would much prefer for Harry to be somewhere (ANYWHERE) else, even if 
it's by means of expulsion.

Zehms:
> In Book 7 I just want to know how Snape earned Dumbledore's trust, I
> want Snape to be worth Dumbledore's sacrafice, but most of all I want
> Dumbledore to be right! If Snape was always a traitor, then
> Dumbledore has been played a fool, and that is a wretched way to end
> Dumbledore's life-as a great wizard who in the end has been
> "hoodwinked" by a repulsive character like Snape.

Bart:
One thing I've noticed numerous times in the series (and disliked) is 
the fact that most of the adults, especially those in authority are 
either evil or fools; much like Disney movies. Dumbledore is the major 
exception, and it is also established that he never quite let go of the 
child within himself (for example, use of types of candies as his 
password). But he always clearly seems to know a lot more than he's 
saying (and, as Prof. John Algeo, noted philogist and Harry Potter fan, 
has pointed out, "dumb" can mean "does not talk"). It would completely 
violate the character to have made him THAT gullible.

As I have (mis)stated before, to me, the biggest clue to Snape's loyalty 
was the fact that he was the one who notified the OOP about the raid on 
the Ministry, and it was not mentioned in his "confession" to Mrs. Malfoy.
Bart