Calling Tonks Nymphadora, and Snape's button pushing in general

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 152109

Leslie41:
<SNIP>
Yup, that seems to me to be Snape all over.  HOWEVER, I think that in
many if not most cases what's revealed as a result is not only
Snape's "nasty personality" (for which we have abundant evidence
otherwise) but a weakness in the object of his scorn.
<SNIP>
Nymphadora Tonks is lovelorn.  This is not necessarily a character
weakness per se, but it is rather inconvenient and not quite
disciplined of her to act the way she does during what is ostensibly a
very dangerous period for the order.  You'll notice Harry willfully
pushes Ginny away when he realizes that he has serious work to do
regarding Voldemort.  Tonks becomes visibly weak and clingy, and dumps
her problems on yet another member of the order (Molly). If her
patronus is weak, SHE is weak.  That's not good.

Alla:

Um, I'd say what Snape perceives as a weakness in the person is not 
necessarily the weakness in the person. Somehow I am not seeing JKR 
sending the message that love, real love at the time of war makes the 
person weak.

That is of course even putting aside the question who gave Snape a 
right to mock Tonks in the first place.
Tonks was not weak because of love per se, IMO, she was weak because 
Remus was not returning her love, or so she thought.

Molly and Arthur's love makes them stronger, NOT weaker. Fleur 
declares her decision to stand by wounded Bill and I don't see that 
this is written as something bad, quite the contrary.

Harry pushed away Ginny, true, but I bet he will learn that this was 
a very wrong decision in book 7 and Ginny presence would give him 
more strength, not less.

At the end Mcgonagall says that Dumbledore would have wanted more 
love around, despite the war ( paraphrase) and Fleur and Bills' 
wedding is not postponed.

Leslie41:
<SNIP>
Thus, the Severus Snapes in our lives actually make us better and
stronger people.  

Alla:

LOL!

Leslie41:
The people in the books with the greatest strength of
character don't let Snape get to them.  Remus Lupin, for example.

Alla:

And Snape shows him so much respect for that. :)

JMO,
Alla