Snape and the Longbottoms

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 140391

 


Subject:  C--- 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.
> 
> Why Snape hated the Longbottoms is  an open question, but there are
> many possibilities:
<snip a lot  of IMO plausible stuff>

Actually, I like this, and I'd like to add  another reason Snape might
loathe Neville. He was *supposed* to be dead,  easy, peasy, Japanesy.
Just as Harry reminds Snape of James (and maybe Lily  in a particularly
excruciating way, assuming LOLLIPOPS or similar sweet),  Neville
reminds Snape of how very pear-shaped everything went at GH. One  might
even further surmise that Neville's haplessness further  exacerbates
Snape's teeth-gnashing over what happened; he's "the other boy  who
lived," and even less worth saving (in Snape's opinion) than  Harry.

On the other hand, looking at Neville may deepen his guilt; the  kid is
not in very good shape, but if things had gone according to  Snape's
assumptions, he'd be in a *tomb*. Interesting idea,  Del!

Sandy aka msbeadsley



Julie:
I don't think we know from canon that Neville was supposed to be
dead also, do we? I seem to recall Dumbledore only said Voldemort
chose Harry as the boy in the prophecy. So if it's only conjecture 
(even if reasonable conjecture) that Voldemort would have killed 
Neville too given the chance, then we can't say Snape would have
knowledge of that conjectured thing. (Pardon my bad grammar)
 
In any case, it doesn't appear to me that Snape treats Neville 
and Harry the same way. Every time he goes off on Neville it's
because of yet another potion he's bumbled. I'm sure that he's 
a Gryffindor also doesn't endear him to Snape, but I don't see
the same personal vendetta against Neville that Snape has 
against Harry. If Snape felt guilty or angry that Neville survived,
or if he'd planned for him to be the boy Voldemort killed, I 
think there would be a more personal level to Snape's taunting
of Neville, but it's only ever about Neville's potions (in)ability. 
 
Julie 


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