Hi all,

Steph wrote:
<insert cabbage discussion leading to "could Mrs. F. be Snape's long, lost lover?"> "... What if Mrs Figg is Snape's *mother*? After all, Dumbledore doesn't state that the 'old crowd' have to be around Lupin, Black and Snape's age."
 
This is another possibility, but I still like the idea of it being a lovey-dovey type situation. I think all Snape needs is a good go on the Wild Monkey Merry-Go-Round and his heart of ice will melt.  No.... I don't  know that I necessarily believe that. I have to ask myself if I would  like Snape as a nice guy. Nope. In my mind he is forever bound to the dark, brooding bat persona of past books. Anyway, adding a green toothed smile to that greaseball's already humongous-nose bedecked face might be a bit scary.

Tex Wrote:
"I think the kids spend A LOT of time doing mental exercises to develop their magical abilities. This would change the personalities of the kids. They wouldn't be the ordinary kids we see in the books. Moreover, dealing with magic would involve a very different world view from that of the kids we know, who view the world through technology.(even though they may not know much technology.)"

I have to agree that the mental exercises affect them, as well as the replacement of technology by magic,  but so would, simply,  growing up in a world so completely different from ours.  As a kid, I wasn't in danger of being slashed by a hippogriff (he was provoked I tell ya!), turned to stone by a basilisk, or having my soul sucked out by a dementor. How would living in a world we can only dream of affect someone? What would be their fantasy world? Would they need to have one? Would "normalcy" be the fantasy? (Musing over Ron's comic book about, I think, "Marvin the Mad Muggle").
 
Tex also said:
"Granted, the kids may be able to partition the magical world from their social lives, (Much as LTG III partitions his HP group activities from Bonobos(You DO keep them seperate, don't you?))"

I actually can't separate the two. You see, what you are reading has been dictated by me to my pet bonobo, Kanzi Jr., who is typing it for me.  Say "hello" Kanzi.... "Salutations most illustrious HP4GUers". He, most obviously,  has a rather extensive vocabulary. Partly from reading and rereading the HP series. He has some interesting theories about the role of Hedwig, but I think it may just be a slight crush on his part.
*That's a joke, just in case anyone was thinking about getting a bonobo. They are highly endangered, and I urge everyone I can to help in their preservation.*

I know! I know! Back to canon centered discussion! Sheesh! Those mods and their Smelting sticks! 

kiricat2001 wrote:
"Mrs. Figg is described as being an old woman.  If that's truly the case, she and Snape would not have been students at Hogwarts at the same time.  So, whatever her skill at Potions, she would have been long gone by the time Snape arrived at Hogwarts.  Unless, she was, perhaps, the Potions Master...hmmm. Or unless her current old age is a disguise and she's really much younger."

That last bit was what I was thinking. Maybe a glamour a la "Darkly Inclined".... a wonderful fanfic, which I thoroughly enjoyed!  
In regards to your query about whether Snape was a part of the Old Crowd, in retrospect, I have to agree. Sirius' reaction definitely elicits questions about just how many people knew about Snape's role.  I just wanted to spread a little cheer (or the chance there of)  into the old git's life. Poor lonely Severus..........

marinafrants wrote:
"The proper response to this, of course, is to stick Snape in a bright pink room full of teddy bears and frolicking bunnies, pipe in an endless stream of "Hello, Kitty" songs, and see how well he works *then*.  <EG>"

Definitely not the way to spread cheer into his life, but.... *Tear* someone after my own heart!  As a budding psychologist, I think I could turn this into my senior honors thesis........ hmmm.................... Phil Zimbardo, get outta my way! Its time for pink bunnies and hello kitty! Wonder what effect that would have on my guinea pigs... err... willing participants.

Ouch! Stop it with those damnable sticks! I'm done! I'm done! No more OT! I promise!

    Yours, 
         L. Terrell Gould, III 
*who is brandishing salve and a sour expression 
for what could have been multiple injuries from the mods*

vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.


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