The Continuing Tragedy of Severus Snape: Reflections on Books 1-5

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 164549

> Cassy:
> Very true. Even allowing for 'the Harry filter', though, I am struck
> by the immaturity of Snape's behaviour and the main reason I cite
> jealousy as a probable motivation here is that Snape's chief 
outburst
> comes when Dumbledore is being particularly supportive & 
affectionate
> towards Harry after the Quidditch match:
> 
> 'As Gryffindors came spilling onto the field, he saw Snape land
> nearby, white-faced and tight-lipped -- then Harry felt a hand on 
his
> shoulder and looked up into Dumbledore's smiling face. ... Snape 
spat
> bitterly on the ground.' (PS/SS13)

zgirnius:
Why was Snape refing thje match in the first place, do you think 
(it's the only time we see him do it in six years)? I think it is 
because he was anticipating a possible repeat of the previous game 
(where Harry was nearly hexed off his broom) and wanted to be closer 
to the action.

And what happens? His team loses, everyone thinks he was doing it to 
cheat, and Dumbledore is there for the game, so that Snape's 
precaution was not even necessary. Seems like a plenty good reason to 
be less than pleased, especially if the white-facedness indicates 
Snape is not an avid flier. (Possible hint of that in one of his 
memories in OotP, as well...)

> Cassy:
> So you don't subscribe to the view that it is Lily's *Potions* 
talent
> inside that textbook? I find it curious that Slughorn (who taught 
them
> all) repeatedly equates Harry with Lily (specifically mentioning her
> creative brilliance), but compares him favourably to Snape:
> 
> `But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions!
> Instinctive, you know – like his mother! 
 Well, then, it's natural
> ability! I don't think even you, Severus –` `Really?' said Snape
> quietly, his eyes still boring into Harry, who felt a certain
> disquiet.' (HBP15) 

zgirnius:
In my opinion, this is because Snape may have finished perfecting his 
potions improvements after his first attempts at those potions. Harry 
is reading the final notes and using them - naturally his potion is 
superior. That SLug compares Harry's Potion to Snape's (not Lily's) 
seems to support that he, at least, saw these students as roughly 
equals. 

I do think there was a Lily connection, and it probably involved 
their common interest in Potions, but I think the creations in the 
book are Snape's, spells and Potions both.