Explain this passage

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 180694

> > Carol, noting that both Harry and Ron regarded the Half-Blood Prince
> > as a genius (too bad he couldn't have been their contemporary and
> > their friend)
> 
> 
> Potioncat:
> Interesting isn't it, that these two Gryffindor boys liked this 
> Slytherin?--or what they knew of him. They didn't find the magic to 
> be "dark" or horrible. It reminds me again of the excuse given that 
> James didn't like Severus because Severus was into Dark Magic. The 
> real issue was that James disliked Severus because of a Slytherin 
> bias.
> 
> I have to wonder again, if the Hat had offered Gryffindor to Severus, 
> if he would have taken it? Would Lily being there be enough, or would 
> James being there have been too much?
> 
> Potioncat

Montavilla47
I don't think James would have been that big a factor for Severus.  He 
had barely met the kid, and it wasn't like having people dislike him
instantly was such a rare experience for little Sev, was it?

As for whether Lily would have been enough... it would be interesting
(and give an alternate explanation to the reason I think Snape looked
"stricken" at Dumbledore's sorting-too-soon comment)* if Severus
had been given a choice by the hat to join the House his friend was 
in and he rejected it.

I've always assumed that Severus, having read "Hogwarts:  A History"
had correctly associated Gryffindor with "might makes right" and
bullies.  Having lived with his parents, he would naturally reject 
being sorted into a House that would either trap him every night
with an entire dorm of bulllies--in which case he would likely 
either be continually victimized, or else develop his own latent
bully tendencies.

Smart child, that Severus.  Mind you, it might have been a big
boost to the Order had he gone through Gryffindor to become
one of Dumbledore's champions.  On the other hand, he might 
have become even more of a bully than he did--with the 
added kick of smug self-righteousness.

Montavilla47

* My interpretation of his look, is, of course, that he's appalled
that Dumbledore is dissing Slytherin to his face.