Snape and love (was What triggered ancient magic? WAS: Re: James and Intent

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 187030


> > Alla:
> > 
> > As an aside of the sorts, do you really consider what Snape did to Lily to be story about love?
> 
> Potioncat:
> First, I haven't had a HP book in my hands in a long time, so some of this is rusty memory.
> 
> But, yes, I think Snape continued to love Lily through all the years. I'm not so sure that it had ever fully reached romantic love, if it did, it transformed into a different type of love (courtly, familial, friend).


Alla:

Before I get off the computer I need to clarify, because I am sure that Snape continued to love Lily through years. What I should have written is that I do not consider Snape's bargaining for Lily's life only with Voldemort to be an *act* of love. That event to me is not love, it is selfish obsession. But sure through years he did what I would consider acts of love, although when I saw him tearing apart that letter, I thought that was an act of obsession too.

I am sure you know medieval knights and their loves for the ladies who were often married, etc. I mean, I am not talking about realistic stories, but the legends, ballads, of how they would love the lady their whole life, etc. So I cannot make up my mind if JKR was writing that story with Snape, or some horribly twisted parody (not that I mind it if it is so) of that story.

> Potioncat:
> First --jmo---I don't think Snape was thinking at all. I think he heard LV's plan to go after the Potters and Severus' reaction was "I must save Lily." And if he was thinking, how could he have asked LV to spare the One With the Power?

Alla:

If he was not thinking, sure I can forgive him. The thing is though, even when he comes to Dumbledore, he at first does exactly same thing, asks only for Lily's life till Dumbledore shames him, so was he still not thinking at that point?


Potioncat: 
> And it seems reasonable to me that he would go to LV first. Look how frightened he was at that hilltop meeting with DD. So he went to LV, got the promise, then had some second thoughts of his own--screwed up the courage and went to DD.
> 
> Snape hadn't yet even considered Lily's family. 
<SNIP>

Alla:

Oh sure, it seems reasonable to me, I am not disputing that.  After all, it is not like he did not go to Dumbledore eventually. I am not seeing that it was an act of  great love, you know? I see that he wanted this woman for years, did not realize that couple whom he sold to Voldemort would not be couple he does not know (as if this makes any better, Snape dear), but oh so familiar to him couple. So, I see him still wanting Lily and running to his boss begging for her life.

I guess then he got some of his brilliant mind together and realized Ooops, Voldemort may not keep his promise and went to Dumbledore. Not because he realized how horrible it is that he got into this gang in the first place of course and till Dumbledore shames him and manipulates him he does not even suggest first that he is going to do something about it.

Only my opinion of course,

Alla