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

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 187031

 
> 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. 

Potioncat:
To a certain point, bargaining for Lily's life with LV doesn't make sense, but we also know that LV tried to recruit James and Lily and that makes less sense.

I mean, here's a half-blood DE asking for a Muggle-born witch.

But that aside, he was asking for Lily's life to be spared--and he was asking a maniac. So I think it was an act of love to save Lily's life.


> Alla:
> 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:
I agree that this is the basis for the Severus/Lily story--which ever way JKR intended.
> 
> 
> 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:
Good point. While he certainly couldn't have asked LV to spare James or Harry, he could have asked DD to. So if he is thinking, he isn't thinking beyond just saving her life.
> 
 
> 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.

Potioncat:
Here's where we differ. And we will probably continue to differ because it's speculation (unless someone can find canon.) There is a difference between wanting a person and loving a person. If courtly love is the model, then Snape wasn't hoping to get Lily for himself, but simply to save her life. I don't think he expected Lily to become his, nor was that his goal. JMO.


> Alla:
> 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,


Potioncat:
Sadly, my opinion too. I still can't fully understand what Severus Snape, the Half-blood Prince, is doing in the DEs.

Both Severus and Regulus---DEs who went good--acted because someone they cared about was being harmed by LV.