Choices/Snape as abuser, SKIP if not interested WAS :Re: CHAPTER

[Jean Lamb]

No: HPFGUIDX 188553

> Jean:
> Snape had a valid expectation of Harry
> starting up the 'Snivellus' nickname again, and laughing with his friends
> over it; the fact it didn't happen is something that Snape could not have
> expected. After all, even Lily used that nickname in the Worst Memory.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I completely disagree that it is a valid expectation that little boy who
just arrives in the world unknown to him will use a rude nickname used by
his father he never knew in part thanks to Snape dear. He is a boy for
crying out loud, an orphaned boy in part thanks to Snape. 
><SNIP>

--The Pensieve incident was in fifth year. Snape had just come from rescuing
Montague (who appears, in canon, to have suffered permanent brain damage
because of what the Twins did to him), only to discover Harry in the Worst
Memory. By that time Harry was not a little boy; Snape was giving Occlumency
lessons (badly; one suspects that he was not pleased to have to do what I
think was really Dumbledore's job), and Harry openly admitted that he wanted
the visions and did not want them to go away in that part of OOtP. (I can
quote canon on that if need be). Harry had what he thought were valid
reasons--after all, he saved Arthur Weasley by channeling Nagini--and yet,
his refusal to learn Occlumency or remember Sirius Black's gift ultimately
cost his godfather his life. I do think Harry would have worked harder at
learning Occlumency had he been taught by Dumbledore. By that time, Harry
was  a fairly troubled young man still dealing with the trauma of Cedric's
death and with Umbridge's horrible quill. Note that losing his godfather and
finding out that Dumbledore apparently knew about the Dursleys' abuse didn't
stop _Dumbledore_ from sending him back to Privet Drive. 
 
And this is undoubtedly just a coincidence, but I think it's interesting
that the Order showing up and threatening the Dursleys occurred the same
year that _Snape_ learned of the Dursleys' abuse (as he obviously did during
the Occlumency lessons). 
 
As for Marietta Edgecombe, there is no canon evidence that she was happy
about telling on the DA; in fact, my reading of her confession in front of
the other DA members is that she sounds reluctant and unhappy. Nobody ever
asked why she did so; not even people besides Harry who had also been
tortured with the Quill. As for her mother's job, from my reading of canon,
it seems to be rare for mothers to work outside the home (Petunia, Molly for
example. If Marietta's mother was the only income, and worked for Umbridge,
there was, in my opinion, a possibility of the Edgecombe family being fired,
blackballed, and unable to find work in the Wizarding World (cf Remus
Lupin). It also possible that Umbridge acquired some _real_ Veritaserum when
she tried to use the whole bottle of the fake stuff on Harry. It is also
possible that Umbridge used other spells on Edgecombe. The fact is, we don't
know why Marietta Edgecombe talked--for all we know Umbridge was able to use
a Crucio on her (the way she tried to on Harry just before meeting the
centaurs). I think that Flitwick is a head of House who appeared more
involved in scoring points off of Umbridge than caring about one of his
students; given that Luna Lovegood is treated for years, he seems, in my
opinion, to be a head of House who doesn't pay much attention to his
students' needs. 
 
A quick note on the teacher that JK Rowling said she modeled Snape after--he
appears to be a very nice gentleman by the name of John Nettleship, who
helped her mother find a job when the family was broke, and is indeed the
opposite in temperament from Snape from the accounts of people who know him.
Rowling is, of course, allowed artistic license in the creation of her
characters. 
 

Jean Lamb

Do UPS workers learn Parceltongue?

tlambs1138 at charter.net

excessiveperky at LJ

 

 


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