Snape's Worst Memory

[Len Jaffe]

No: HPFGUIDX 150688

> > andrea1270@ wrote:
> > Because I do believe that whether Snape be good or
> > evil, he just plain doesn't like Harry.
> 
> Steven1965aaa writes:
> Perhaps Snape's dislike of both Harry and James, 
> standing alone, would be enough to make him want
> Harry to see James 


Len:
Severus Snape had been a full-time teacher at Hogwarts
for about 10 years by the time Harry shows up for year
1.

Perhaps Snape's generally dour demeanor, combined with
watching a student (with whom he has historical
emotional ties) squander his abilities, is what makes
him so abusive to Harry in potions.

Why is he so mean to Neville? Well, Neville appears to
be a complete failure at potions, and Snape just
abuses him becuase he can.

I'm reminded of a Pink Floyd lyric from "The Wall":
When we grew up and went to school / there were 
certtain teachers / who would hurt the children /
in any way they could / by pouring their derision /
upon anything we did / exposing every weakness /
however carefully hidden by the kid.

Could "verbally abusive" be be an English
boarding-school teacher archetype, and Snape just be
an example?  I think he must be, and he reserves his 
greatest derision for those who are failures at
potions, and he takes extra delight in tormenting the
Gryffindor power trio. Harry for reasons that we've
been hashing around already.  Ron for his close
association with Harry and his mediocrity, and since
he can't ride Hermione for underachiement, he make fun
of her for knowing all the answers (which can be
insufferable), and her looks (GoF - big teeth) which
is just plain cheap for a teacher to do.

Snape is just a nasty man, with some unsavory hobbies,
and a childhood grudge that inform his actions as an
adult and teacher.