Connections Interview re: Snape (1999)

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 171684

> Sue(hpfan):
> I agree that if no one would want Snape, it would have to be for a 
> really terrible reason.  Although, Draco doesn't have any trouble 
> and he is just as foul, some times more foul.  I wonder if her 
> comment was to throw everyone off.  He is "creepy" but I think it 
is 
> too late and too cheap to make him different in some way.  I think 
> if posed the question pre-Pansy Parkinson, JKR might have said the 
> same thing about Draco.
> 
> Sue(hpfan0


lizzyben:

I totally agree that JKR's comment was meant to throw people off 
about 
Snape's past history & motivations. In another early interview, JKR 
suggested that DD didn't give Snape the DADA job because DD was 
afraid 
it would make Snape relapse back to the Dark Arts. But, now we know 
that wasn't true (or wasn't the whole truth). DD actually didn't 
give Snape the DADA job because the position was cursed, and he 
wanted to keep Snape around. So, there's actually 3 collaborators in 
selling Snape's cover story - DD, Snape, & JKR: JKR presented the 
exact same DADA cover story to readers that Snape later presented to 
the Black sisters. For many reasons, JKR doesn't want readers to 
know the truth before the last novel. This is why, IMO, JKR's quotes 
are pretty useless when it comes to learning new clues or 
revelations about the storyline. There's no way she'll reveal 
anything in an interview - all we'll get is the cover story.

Her answer to the "Snape in love" question was snarky, but it also 
cleverly avoided answering the question. And it also helped send 
readers down the wrong path (Snape is creepy, ever so evil & 
unloveable). She could've just said yes or no, but the way she 
evaded answering indicates that the real answer will be an important 
element of the plot. And IMO it'll be "Snape loved Lily", as hokey 
as that plot might seem.

lizzyben