Headmaster for a day (was Prank WAS :Re: CHAPDISC: DH33, The Princ

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 184967

 
> Montavilla47:
> But isn that Snape?  He's disciplined, controlled, and intellectual 
> with a very blind spot when it comes to himself.  But, I think that
> his memories do show that he understands his own culpability 
> in losing Lily--both times.
snip 
> From that point on, his journey is one of slowly (very slowly) 
> expanding his circle of concern from Lily outwards, until, by 
> HBP, he's protecting everyone he can from Voldemort.



Potioncat:
It seems Snape's mission to protect Lily's son just barely kept him 
alive. He wears black and lives in a dungeon two-- big hints that he 
was in mourning and imprisoned emotionally. His occupation--perhaps not 
one he would have chosen--kept him out of the world most of the year. 
But even if he had the inclination to move about among people, who 
could he befriend? 

If he understood all along that one day he would have to convencingly 
present himself as loyal to LV-- then he couldn't risk forming 
friendships or attachments to anyone who wasn't a LV follower. His 
(future) position as a DE would put them at risk, and possibly put him 
in a position similar to the one with Charity. 

It appears he maintained his connections to the Malfoys, but not to 
many (any?) of the other DEs...no one in the DE camp seemed to trust 
him.

His situation wasn't as bad as Sirius's, but it was similar. He was 
alone, even among others. If the Potters had lived, both Sirius and 
Severus would have had the chance to actually grow up. Had Lily lived, 
Severus would have gotten over her.