The Unloved Son (was Re: Could I be wrong about Snape being evil?)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 156715

> >>Wynnleaf:
> > But since DD really spends very little actual time with Harry,   
> > compared to what must certainly be a good deal more time with    
> > Snape, it seems doubtful that that kind of jealousy would be at 
> > such overpowering heights as to be the primary fuel for Snape's 
> > hatred of Harry.

> >>Lupinlore:
> Well, by the time you get to a hatred that intense and long-
> standing, I'm not so sure that "primary" and "secondary" reasons   
> are very important anymore.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
And this is where I have to jump in.  How do we know Snape has such 
an "intense and long-standing" hatred of Harry?  I mean, other than 
Harry being absolutely positive that Snape hates him (just as he was 
absolutely positive that Fake!Moody was in his corner) what really 
points to Snape spending all that much emotion on Harry?

Sure, *Harry* has an intense hatred of Snape.  (I wouldn't call it 
long-standing because I think it took a while to build.)  But, other 
than the days following Harry's viewing of the Pensieve scene, I 
don't recall Snape acting in a manner that describes intense hatred 
for Harry, to me.

I get that Snape *doesn't like* Harry.  But it's a pretty big leap 
from dislike to out and out hatred (one we get to see Harry make 
with Snape, and it takes a death to do it) and frankly, I haven't 
seen evidence of that hatred.

> >>Joe:
> > Unless beyond all the other reasons Snape is simply a jerk as   
> > well.

> >>colebiancardi: 
> pssstttt....I am a HUGE Snape fan, but I kinda agree with you - I 
> think he is on the side of good, etc, but I also think his        
> personality is, well, jerky :)

Betsy Hp:
Exactly!  Snape is snarky.  If he sees an opportunity to deliver a 
zinger, he generally can't help himself.  And if he's confronted by 
a fool, he doesn't suffer gladly.  That makes him an intimidating or 
even scary teacher.  It makes him not very fluffy and 
understanding.  It makes him the speaker of some of the best lines 
in Potterverse.  He's prickly and unpleasant... with *everyone*, 
from what I can tell.  So I'm just not getting where we see that 
Snape absolutely, intensely, and with the heat of a thousand fiery 
suns, *hates* Harry Potter.

> >>Joe:
> Yes, yes I know it is more fun to try and come up with complex    
> reasons why Snape is or isn't a good guy.
> Still we need to consider that Snape could just be a great big    
> jerk who never left behind a childhood rivalry, period.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Snape is just fun to watch; no need to pile on the man, he brings 
enough to the yard all by himself, IMO.  The Marauders, for 
example.  Though really, I think Snape has gotten over most of the 
Marauders by this point.

At the end of PoA Snape figures out that Lupin is not only a big 
wimpering, wimp of a man, he's untrustworthy, too.  More 
importantly, so does Dumbledore.  So much for Lupin.

In OotP Snape gets to have that verbal duel with Sirius during which 
Sirius totally goes unhinged without Snape breaking a sweat.  So 
much for Sirius.

In the opening of HBP we see Peter as Snape's personal little house-
elf.  So much for Peter.  (Though...  Peter is a bit too sneaky for 
me to write off that easily; I don't know if Snape sees it or not. 
But Peter is certainly not an emotional issue for Snape anymore.  If 
he ever was...)

So we're left with James.  And yeah, I think that stuff still 
lingers.  And yeah, I think Harry gets the brunt of it.  Honestly, I 
don't know if Snape will ever be able to put his James issues to 
bed.  But even if he is, there's still the wild card that is Lily 
waiting to be delt with.

So yeah, Snape's got enough issues to be going on with.  I don't 
think we need to add "intense hatred of Harry" to the pile.

Betsy Hp