Snape Loved or In-Love with Lily?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 148376

> Alla:
> How do I feel about Snape "loved Lily" or was "in love" with her?
> I would love for that NOT to come true, because of the EWWWW part
> of the theory, but with every book, I feel more and more that it 
> just FITS and it just may explain SO many plot points.
> 
> I certainly won't reject the possibility that you just described, 
> Steve, because even if Snape had as you said "non-sexual" fondness 
> for Lily, it will still provide explanation for those plot points, 
> but I also do not reject Snape being fully "in love" with Lily
> part, nope I think it is very, very possible.

Jen: EWW. Snape/Lily bothers me because the only scenario that seems 
possible in JKR's world of romance, which is incredibly traditional, 
would be unrequited love on the part of Snape. The idea of her 
pristine Lily character feeling anything more than compassion for 
Snape doesn't fit in with her typical pairings at all. So that 
leaves perfect Lily 'seeing the good' in Snape when few others 
could. Ick. I mean, unless it were a fantasy love on Severus' part--
but that scenario wouldn't make Harry feel any better about him!

Alla:
> If your objections are just based on predictability part, well
> then how more predictable "Ron/Hermione" and "Harry/Ginny" can be?
> 
> I know, I know, many people read  the text as different 
> possibilities (Harry/Hermione), etc, but honestly, if I may had
> some tiny doubts about Harry/Ginny sometimes, Ron/Hermione
> screamed at me from every book.
> 
> So, going back to Snape/Lily - to me predictability is definitely 
> NOT a basis for rejection of this theory, quite the contrary.

Jen: Ditto on the first part, thinking the pairings were 
predictable. About the second part though, so far JKR has paired up 
people she seems to view as equals. None of them have been an 
obvious mismatch except for drugged-up Tom Riddle, Sr. and Merope. 
This is why I think if love were involved, it was on Snape's part 
only, and I've always agreed with Neri there's solid canon for 
unrequited love from Snape toward Narcissa.

When JKR said: "Who on earth would want Snape in love with them? 
That's a horrible idea," maybe her devious brain was thinking 
Narcissa would deserve that particular horrible fate. Hehehe.

You know, as I sit here thinking about canon for Snape/Lily, I can't 
remember one bit that is actually hinted at in canon rather than 
being a speculative reason because it would fill a plot hole. Not 
saying that discounts LOLLIPOPS completely, but look at this list of 
major events Snape's love for Lily is supposed to answer:

1. Snape hates Harry because he has Lily's eyes.
2. Snape felt remorse about the Potters because of his love for 
Lily, and switched sides.
3. Dumbledore trusts Snape because he confessed love for Lily and 
that's why he can't tell Harry the reason for his trust.
4. Snape asked Voldemort to spare Lily and that's why he asked her 
to step aside at GH. 
5. Calling Lily 'mudblood' was a major turning point for Snape 
joining the DE's becuase he'd rejected the one person who cared 
about him.

Yet no character ever mentions a possible connection between Snape 
and Lily and we've never seen a positive interaction between them. 
Maybe JKR has gone too far in the other direction on this one, 
concealing her clues too tightly. It just seems like it would 
explain too *much*, if that makes sense.

Alla:
> Snape loving Lily is IMO the ONLY thing which can make Harry to
> feel some kind of pity for Snape. Otherwise, I cannot even IMAGINE
> how Harry will be able to forgive him, IMO. But I can certainly 
> see "because my mother would wanted me to" or something along
> those lines.
> 
> Granted, this all can work even if Snape simply liked Lily as a 
> friend, and I would prefer that possibility, but IMO JKR may go 
> with "in love" part.

Jen: I'm sort of thinking Harry would be infuriated to find out 
Snape loved Lily rather than Lily saw something good in Snape. Harry 
would think Snape had duped his mum or coerced her. He would need to 
know Lily cared about Snape of her own free will and saw something 
in him the Maruaders didn't see, imo. As for the part about 'my 
mother would have wanted me to' I completely agree. We've seen the 
many ways Harry is like James, most notably showing Peter mercy. I 
think there needs to be an equally powerful way Harry is like Lily 
and showing compassion seems like a good bet.

Jen R., noticing she always finds a way to talk herself out of 
Snape/Lily and can't stop now....