The Irma/Eileen Theory

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 164182

There's an interesting discussion going on elsewhere (Snapecast 
Episode 9 interviewing PAM2002 of Leaky Lounge and Sylvanawood's 
LiveJournal) about Irma Pince being Snape's mother or grandmother.  
The last thing I saw in HPFGU about this was 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/156280, between 
wynnleaf and juli17ptf, where they essentially agreed this could be 
true.  To recap the evidence as it is now being discussed:

1) The anagram, "I'm A Prince - Irma Pince" -- similar to "I Am Lord 
Voldemort," although JKR had to stretch for the latter one.

2) The physical similarity, made more pronounced in HPB (hooked nose, 
parchment-like skin).

3) The fact that a chapter featuring Pince often follows a 
significant chapter for Snape, e.g., per PAM2002, ch. 11-12 of SS, 
ch. 9-10 of COS, ch. 25-26 of GOF, ch. 28-29 of OOTP.  In all of 
these chapters, Pince mirrors Snape's behavior.  The exception is HBP.

4) Pince's extra-effective (darkish?) library science skills.  "Madam 
Pince has been known to add some unusual hexes and jinxes at times, 
besides the usual collection of library book spells." Quidditch 
Through the Ages, as quoted by Sylvanawood.

5) Pince's remaining at Hogwarts over the summer (Sylvanawood: "If 
you look at that funny little check-out page of Quidditch Through the 
Ages, you see that people borrow it from the library all through the 
year").  In fact, Pince never seems to leave the library, except for 
the funeral at the end of HBP -- and some speculate that may have 
been Snape in disguise, not Pince, who may be unable to leave the 
library.

6) Random things: similar irritable behavior, a "pincers-spider" 
correlation, books everywhere at Spinner's End.

So, one theory is that, when Voldemort threatened Snape's family or 
when Snape was backed into a corner, maybe when he was caught 
listening to the Prophecy, Dumbledore offered to protect Snape's 
mother at Hogwarts and Snape became a spy.  What is gained from this 
theory is that it parallels the offer made to Draco on the Tower (at 
least in the United States), and perhaps explains part of the reason 
Dumbledore trusts Snape and yet keeps the reason a secret.  The 
secret is one of tremendous magnitude, the revelation of which could 
be seen as a betrayal, especially if revealed to someone with a 
wholly transparent mind like Harry Potter.  The theory also humanizes 
Snape, showing that love of a kind can be a motivating factor for him.

What bothers me about this theory, however, is that it makes Snape's 
return to Dumbledore less about remorse and more about opportunity, 
and it makes Dumbledore more of a calculating manipulator of others.  
Draco believed he could kill someone for his family, and acted on 
that belief, until Dumbledore offered him another option.  If Draco 
had accepted the offer, he would have "owed" Dumbledore something.  
It is probably in Dumbledore's nature to let people make choices... 
on the other hand, the argument he had with Snape in the forest shows 
he does not really let go once a promise has been made.  And Snape, 
for his part, may just be helping Dumbledore because it is 
advantageous to his family, not because he really wants to make 
amends for past actions or work for good.  It's a kind of 
blackmail/deal-making on both Dumbledore's and Snape's parts, and 
less mercy-second chances-risks voluntarily taken on.

Another theory is that Irma/Eileen went to Dumbledore to save her 
son, much as Narcissa went to Snape to save her son -- a story of 
mother love, without the sacrifice Lily made of her own life, and 
without the potential sacrifice of another that Narcissa engineered.  
Under this theory, Snape accepted the brokered deal, for whatever 
reason he may have had.

None of this says that Snape didn't feel genuine remorse over his 
actions as a Death Eater and the revelation and subsequent 
interpretation of the Prophecy.  But, while the Irma/Eileen theory 
explains many things, and perceiving the motive to save a family 
might be the only way Harry can ever forgive Snape, it still throws 
Snape into a non-redeemable area for me.  His actions, while they can 
be perceived as self-sacrificing, can also be seen as selfish -- not 
that saving your family is the worst motive in the world.

Thoughts?

lealess