[HPforGrownups] Re: If the Marauders weren't so mean to Snape would he have been nicer to Harry.

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 192493

Sherry:
> I think it's too simplistic to say that Snape was the way he was because he
> was bullied. First of all, we see all this through the lens of Snape's
> memories. There are always two sides to every story, and I doubt Snape was
> the always innocent victim.
>
> But my main point is that Snape*chose*  to become what he became. Think of
> the similarities between Harry and Snape. Harry was also bullied. He was
> abused by the Dursleys, locked in a closet, later locked in a bedroom with
> bars on the windows, not fed enough, called horrible names, put down at
> every opportunity, and I personally believe physical abuse at least from his
> uncle. Even in the wizarding world, one day he was a hero, the next they
> thought he was a crazy liar or worse. But Harry didn't choose to run off and
> become part of an evil gang doing all kinds of horrible things to other
> people. He chose to be a decent human being, even to the point of making the
> ultimate sacrifice, not because of a woman but to try to save his world. He
> wasn't always right in what he did, but he tried.
>
> Two boys/men, bullied, verbally and physically abused, and yet only one of
> those boys chose not to let bitterness rule him, while the other chose
> bitterness and hatefulness.

     Both Harry and Snape were manipulated. Not only was Harry protected 
at the Dursleys, but DD wanted to ensure that Harry didn't become a 
cocky jerk like his father as a young man. Note that Draco's first 
reaction to Harry was an attempt to befriend him; if Harry heritage had 
been made known to him, he might have even taken Draco up on it. DD did 
keep track of what was going on at the Dursley's; had Harry been going 
in the wrong direction, he had plenty of resources to nudge Harry on the 
desired path. As a result, Harry entered Hogwarts with a level of 
humility, and, while there is no indication that DD arranged it, the 
motherly Molly was certainly attractive to an orphan on his own, and 
Molly happened to have a son just about Harry's age. And I still say 
that DD's comment about Harry "doing it right" in PS/SS indicates that 
he intended for Harry to rescue the stone; the episode gave Harry 
self-confidence and a desire to continue the war against Morty.

     Snape, on the other hand, while from a underprivileged background, 
was brilliant even as a child. But Potter and Black, both born of 
privilege, looked down on him. If Snape weren't destined to go to 
Slytherin before the train ride to Hogwarts, he was pushed into that 
direction. While Harry met people who all thought he was great, Snape 
encountered people who thought he was a POS. No wonder that he chose to 
go into the house of the wealthy and powerful, rather than the 
brilliant. And, with Morty marshaling his forces together, it is not at 
all surprising that the people at Slytherin welcomed this impoverished 
half-blood. On one-to-one encounters, Snape could quite probably more 
than hold his own, so the Marauders tried to arrange to meet him in a 
pack, where they could outnumber him. It was only natural for Snape to 
gravitate towards his protectors; note, for example, the attitude he has 
towards the elder Malfoy.

     Bart


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