The handwriting in the book (Was: Lily and Snape)

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 140393


> > Valky:
> > My thoughts on it are this. Snape's chiefest interest, his pet
> > subject, is not potions, it's DADA. 
> 
> zgirnius:
> Do we really know this? I suppose his constanly reapplying for the
> DADA position is *a* reason to suppose this...but there are other
> possible reasons which also suggest themselves. Voldemort may have
> wanted him to apply for that position, for example. Or, he might 
> view it as some sort of public show of trust from Dumbledore to get 
> that position. Or, it may pain him beyond bearing to watch 
> dunderheads muck up his favorite Potions recipes year after year...

Valky again:
I agree they are all reasonable suggestions, but I think we do know
that DADA is Snapes pet subject. In Spinners End he tries to impress
its value to him upon Bella in his own defense, it's
uncharacteristically stupid of him to think that the matter of DD
keeeping from DADA would carry any weight if it's not, beyond a doubt,
*very* precious to him, agreed?

Among other things, his loving caress of a speech about Dark Arts, his
inventions, and his reputation for being nose deep in anything Dark
Arts since he was a child.. this all speaks multitudes about it.

 
> Valky:
> > Now I don't know about you, but the words subtle and aesthetic?
> > fitting words to describe the notations in Snapes book, but Snape?
> > Goodness! Snape know aesthetics? even if it was staring hard into 
> > his greasy face, the answer is NO no no! 
> 
> zgirnius:
> Well, actually I don't find it odd to ascribe either quality to 
> Snape. For aesthetics, I'd cite his first ever speech in Potions 
> class. Poetic, that.

Catlady quoted:

"... the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering
fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins,
bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses.... I can teach you how to
bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death ..."


Valky now:
HAha <bg> I had a feeling this one would be thrown heavily at me for
saying this. I had considered it, yes. But poetry, the aesthetics of
speech, it's not going to work in potions since humming lyrically over
the cauldron has nothing to do with these recipe changes. There is a
definite connection between Snapes fashionable eloquence and his
genius in incantation, but it's a different kettle of fish to
perfumery, shimmer, and an elegant touch with nature itself. These
things would translate into a well groomed person (nice smelling
potions), with a gentleness about them (removing less pleasant side
effects from the potion), a love and affinity with nature (bean
juicing). Snape is neither gentle nor well groomed, he doesn't have
the sensitivity required to percieve the growth in Hermione's teeth in
GOF, nor does he possess any obvious sensibility about his own
appearance. These are the aesthetics that translate into the potions
improvements, and they aren't Snapes style. 



Zgirnius:
 As far as subtlety, well, I find his brand of sarcasm is
> sometimes quite subtle (when it is necessary that his victim be
> unaware she's being victimized, as in my very favorite Snape scene.
> Towards the end of OotP, in Umbridge's office where she's trying to
> get him to help her out by providing some Veritaserum.) 

Valky:
I'll grant you, zgirnius, that I can't argue with this, you are quite
right IMO. However, again, the subtlety of the potions improvements
are quite the opposite of sarcasm. They are subtle niceties, not
cruelties. It's quite the antithesis of Snape. I guess that just
leaving at subtle was not the right way to make the point, sorry.


> 
> Valky:
> > It's not his area to add a sprig
> > of peppermint to improve a euphoria potion, is it? Surely not. Why
> > would Snape even *care* about "Euphoria" potion of all things? Let
> > alone whether it smelled nice or if the dunderhead who bothered to
> > take it tweaked his nose and burst into foolish song all over the 
> > place.
> 
> zgirnius:
> I can agree that it is not a potion he necessarily has any use for.
> But if Potions is a favorite subject if his, then the making of that
> potion would be an intellectual exercise. (It is in the NEWT-level
> text out of which he was apparently taught.) And eliminating a known
> side-effect of it an interesting challenge. 

Valky:
I appreciate the argument for this being a purely intellectual
exercise, but I don't think it holds. One could intellectually come to
discover that peppermint reduces side effects in Euphoria potion. But
it's far easier I'd say to be concerned for the drinker and be
genuinely interested in providing a service to someone, beforehand. 
I mean, these are really beyond the call *nice* things to be giving in
the course of presenting a potion. The Euphoria potion without a sprig
of peppermint is entirely adequate.

I see you kind of get my point about that zgirnius, so I won't press
on with it. 

While we were on the subject of Snapes sense of humour I wanted to add
a note about the Bezoar. I forgot there so I'll just notch it in here. 
Just shove a bezoar down their throats. Cheeky, no? Cheeky was Lily's
style. It's falling in the wrong field of wit to have Sarcastic Snape
behind it. and consider, The same person who intellectually derived
improvements to potions recipes through scientific trial an error,
gives a cheekfaced attitude to the notion of troubling too much to do
the same for an antidote. It's counterintuitive, IMO. 


> 
> Valky:
> > These things are indeed, above all, the marks of someone with
> > aesthetic class, someone subtley bewitchingly beautiful, someone 
> > who is most interested in giving to others, a very popular and 
> > special young lady, it fits. Just IMO.
> 
> zgirnius:
> So if you are right and I am wrong, maybe the poetic Potions
> introduction is really a veiled tribute to someone very special?

Valky:
<beg> I am glad you said that, zgirnius, I honsetly began to think so
myself. 

OTOH I don't think Snape really loved "Lily" in so many words, if
that's the case. It's actually IMHO very supportive of the obsessive
Snape theory, essentially in Love with how he felt around her, y'know,
 enchanted, bewitched etc.  It's speaks strongly of obsessive love,
but says bugger all about really loving the actual person. Don't you
think?

Valky
who hopes the listelves will forgive her overposting in light of the 
sincerest effort she makes to keep to an overall average of under
three per day.