Snape and the Longbottoms

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 140377

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" 
<delwynmarch at y...> wrote:
 
> 
> So I theorise that there's a very simple way to connect all those
> facts: Snape hated the Longbottoms, considered them even more
> dangerous than the Potters, and fully expected LV to think that the
> Prophecy applied to their kid. And just like he has with Harry, he's
> reported the hate he had for the Longbottoms on their kid.

Hickengruendler:

All of this is of course very well plausible. But I want to propose 
another theory for Snape's treatment of Neville. That theory is not 
mine, I readed it on this list pre-HBP and find it very convincing
(and sorry, I have forgotten by whom it was.) Like I said, it was pre-
HBP, and part of the theory is now Canon, namely that Snape was the 
spy, who overheard the beginning of the prophecy.

The theory is:
Snape, who does not know the full prophecy and that Voldemort has 
marked his enemy, still considers Neville as a possible candidate for 
Voldemort's vanquisher.

That gives him three possible reasons for his awful behaviour, 
depending what you think on which site Snape is:

1.) He's loyal to Voldemort and wants to undermine Neville's self-
confidence, so that Neville won't be a threat for the dark Lord.
2.) He wants Voldemort defeated, either because he is loyal to 
Dumbledore or because he has his personal reasons, and is frustrated 
that one of the two prophecy boys is so seemingly inept.
3.) And that's my favourite. He wants Voldemort defeated, but he does 
not want James Potter's son to get all the glory. He therefore is 
frustrated, that the other possible prophecy boy is seemingly inept 
and therefore Harry the only hope for the Wizarding World.
 
Hickengruendler