[HPforGrownups] Lily, Hagrid, Snape, Lucius, Friends (was Re: good/bad Slyth/Disappointment

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 175238

va32h wrote:


Snape is *not* opposing Lucius for most of his adult life, either. 
Snape may have turned spy when he was just 21, but let's not forget 
that for the next 13 years, there was no one to spy upon. 

<snip>

I won't deny that Snape was immensely brave in going back to 
Voldemort after GoF and continuing to spy on him for the next three  
years.  But let's not forget that Snape had many, many years in which 
he lived quite comfortably <snip>

Irene:

I'm not sure there was no one to spy upon. Dumbledore seemed pretty sure that Voldemort would find a way to return. It stands to a reason that he'd ask Snape to keep his "faithful DE" facade and keep an eye on Voldemort's supporters.

Prep0strus wrote:

  And your evaluation of snape
 flawed, good,
tragic.  Yeah, I can see that.  But overwhelmingly MEAN.  And I have a
hard time getting past that.  He didn't grow up.  He stayed an angry,
nasty person, even when he was `good'.  And he is tragic, but I know
also that his choices make him so.  <snip> Harry had a tough childhood, and Sirius was indoctrinated in evil

maybe with a little more work or a little more devotion to Lily Snape
could have been like them instead of such a tragic figure. 

Irene:

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at the idea that with a little effort Snape could have been "as good" as Sirius. I can understand presenting Harry as a role model of someone who overcame tough childhood, but Sirius? He is every bit as MEAN as Snape is, if not meaner. He is mean to Peter, he is mean to Molly, he is mean to Kreacher, he is even mean to Harry when Harry does not play along.
Ah, I can hear the objections, but he is so nice to the people he cares about! Guess what - Snape is also perfectly civil and even nice to Malfoys, for example.
I really have to wonder - if teenage Lupin one day decided that he's had enough "close chances" to kill someone in Hogsmead, and he does not want to run around with Marauders on full moon nights anymore, would Sirius stayed nice to him?

Irene