DH and PS/SS

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 175399

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Irene Mikhlin
<irene_mikhlin at ...> wrote:
>


>
>
> By god, you are right. This simplest explanation also covers some
>other canonical conundrums, like why Sirius was not adequately
>punished for the Prank, or why Dumbledore enjoyed pulling Snape's
>chains so much in PoA. He just never liked him.


Well, I think that DD and Snape had a layered and complex
relationship.  Once Snape started to work for DD, I think DD did come
to respect him, and did have compassion for him.  Did he ever *like*
him?  That is a vague word, and can mean different things to
different people.  Certainly Snape was not like a son to him, nor was
he a devoted disciple or beloved pupil.  Was he a *friend*?  Once
again that's a loaded word -- but I'd have to say, no.  Rather they
had a relationship that had some aspects of friendship -- namely the
respect and compassion -- but also had a great deal of tension,
disapproval, frustration, and sometimes outright anger.

I do think that the fact DD deliberately announced the points in
front of Snape and his House, and the fact that DD enjoyed pulling
Snape's chain, was revealing, as was the brusque way he sometimes
dealt with Snape (e.g. not looking up from his newspaper when Snape
was complaining about Harry).  On the other hand, DDs evident concern
and respect for Snape are also important.  But *liking* or
*friendship*?  I don't think we can go so far.

As far as his relationship with Snape the student, see below:


>
> I wonder if as a child Snape didn't bring in Dumbledore the
>memories of his own worst qualities as a child - quest for knowledge
>without regard of how dangerous or dark that knowledge is. So
>Dumbledore dislikes him in the same way Rowling dislikes Slytherin -
>as a projection.
>

That is certainly possible.  Of course, it's also the case that Snape
was hardly a likeable child.  Plus DD had another example of a child
from Slytherin hungry for knowledge -- one Tom Riddle.


Lupinlore