What is poetic justice? WAS: Re: Snape-the Hero -- Snape-the Abuser

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 143521

Nora:
> I mean that it's a good time to re-examine (and there has been 
> postage to these ends) our previous interpretations of the glances 
> that Harry got in the Pensieve scene of Snape's 'homelife'.  None 
of 
> us expected Tobias Snape, Muggle, methinks...and that makes the 
whole 
> idea of an abusive father a little more difficult (if still not 
> impossible).  Given that Snape comes to school knowing magic and 
> mommy is a witch, the idea that her husband is abusing her pops a 
few 
> holes.  I think this is perhaps furthered by the notices in the 
paper 
> of marriage and birth; formality, maybe, but it could also speak to 
a 
> serious match.
> 
> Someone else out in the firmament posted the idea that maybe it's 
> Tobias who has gotten scared and shocked by something naughty 
Eileen 
> has done, and is shouting in fear and reaction.  That works for me; 
> no monopoly on abuse by fathers, after all.

Ceridwen:
I thought, once we knew that Snape was the HBP, that maybe the scene 
Harry witnessed in Snape's memories was memorable to Snape because a) 
it was unusual, therefore frightening young Severus and making such 
an impression, and b), that it was Tobias's reaction to finding out 
that wife and son, or now son as well as wife, were magical.

I don't think it's beyond possibility.  Seamus Finnegan said that it 
was a 'nasty shock' to his father to find out his wife was a witch.  
Tom Riddle, sr. left his witchly wife.  It seems to be a dagger of 
either major or minor proportions, in the mixed marriages it affects 
in the books.  Why not the Snape marriage?

I do agree that Muggle Tobias makes it harder to believe that Witch 
Eileen would allow herself to be abused.  Though some parts of the WW 
seem to be very traditional, as in Molly's staying home with the kids 
while the family struggles on a single income, other parts have 
liberated witches holding high positions in Hogwarts, the government, 
and probably in other businesses as well.  While domestically, on the 
surface it seems that men are the Rulers of the Roost, underneath as 
well, it seems that Mom rules the castle.  This is Eileen's 
heritage.  I can't see her (or any witch) settling for abuse.  Not 
even for love.  After a while, that just doesn't work.

In fact, that doesn't jibe with either Muggle or Wizard Tobias.  At 
least, not to me, now that I'm thinking about it.  I couldn't see any 
witch we've met in the books allowing someone to abuse them.

I do think the Prince-Snape marriage was a serious match.  Probably a 
love-match, since it's between different cultures.  And, it looks 
like someone in the Prince family gave their blessing, too, since 
announcements were put into the paper.  If so, I think that pokes 
holes in the Pureblood Supremacist Princes, too...

Though, the Daily Prophet might run announcements anyway just 
because, so maybe the announcements are just there to give Hermione 
information.  Small items are often run by smalltown papers without 
payment, and just with information from publicly available sources.

Ceridwen.