Harry and Snape's Salvation (Re: No progress for Slytherin?)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 174024

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sylviampj" <autr61 at ...> wrote:

> 
> One thing I was amazed to read in JKR's online interview was that 
> she felt that possibly Lily might have become romantically involved 
> with Snape. From the brief clues she gives us from the Pensieve 
> scenes in HBP and DH it appears to me that from their very first 
> meeting as small children Snape's vindictive and sly streak caused 
> Lily some anguish, and was a cloud over their entire relationship. 
> It was a part of his nature that he seemingly could not overcome, 
> and I can't ever imagine that she could have fallen in love with 
> him, even if James Potter hadn't come on the scene. 
> 
> Sylvia.
>

Well, as I recall JKR said that Lily could have loved Snape 
romantically (paraphrase) "if it had not been for his attraction to 
the Dark Arts and the Death Eaters."  I think it is important to 
remember that the personality flaws you mention are intimately bound 
up with Snape's attraction to the Dark Arts.

It is true that his sly and vindictive nature was not, strictly 
speaking, created by the Dark Arts -- although it WAS shaped by a 
family that had in turn been shaped by the Dark Arts.  But certainly 
his attraction to Dark Magic and the people who practiced it 
strengthened and magnified the cruelty and evil in his own soul.  
Many people have mentioned in the past that the Dark Arts seem to be 
addictive, and I think this is a useful way of thinking about this 
situation  Many an alcoholic suffers from a personality riddled with 
flaws that might not be created by drink, but are certainly greatly 
worsened by alcohol.  Similarly in this case I suspect a Snape who 
managed to turn away from the Dark Arts and the Death Eaters would be 
a Snape who exhibited a very different kind of behavior and attitude.


Lupinlore