[the_old_crowd] Snape's Backslide (was Re: Welcome!)

[sean dwyer]

On Wed, Sep 01, 2004 at 11:39:56AM -0000, kneasy wrote:
> His parents - the problem there is  the same problem that we have
> everywhere else concerning Snape - the total embargo on information.
> It's most irritating in one way but conversely we have the fun and
> games of devising entertaining scenarios. Something triggered the
> traumatic split with Voldy and 'family' looks a good bet. 

Or not. JKR's impatience with the legions of Snape's adoring fans seems odd
when we consider this embargo. Dare we hope that Harry's curiosity overcomes
his blind prejudice? Do we have to depend on Harry for the knowledge?
 
> One thing that does surprise me is that whatever happened nobody
> talks about it, nobody seems to know about it. In a small closed
> society like the WW this seems unlikely. Maybe if Harry had a quiet
> chat with Molly - I bet she knows all the gossip.

Perhaps the real problem is that they know that Snape's past is dangerous
knowledge for Harry, and Dumbledore fears that he may betray Snape
unintentionally. In which case of _course_ Harry will find out :) Helps that
Harry so far has had not the slightest interest. I agree that Mater and Pater
Weasley know a darn sight more than they've already given away; Molly's fit of
the vapours has more behind it.

> Sirius claimed Snape had a greater knowledge of dark arts at 11 than
> most of the sixth year. Who taught him and how? From what we know
> Snape wouldn't get a wand until he received his Hogwarts letter and
> he seems pretty contemptuous of 'wand-waving' anyway. So unless he
> showed a precocious proclivity for arcane culinary arts I don't see how
> he would have learned that much that early. Though he'd  make up for
> it later on the post-grad "Murder and Mayhem for Aspirant DEs" course.
> No; I suspect casual hyperbole on Sirius' part.

But ask yourself who taught Snape the talent to keep his thoughts to himself,
that's been bothering me since it could indicate that he's a _triple_ agent.
What was it about a youthful humiliation that was necessary enough to remove
and yet be unable to look at objectively? Makes the pensieve less useful,
particularly to one who appears to pride himself on strength of mind/will.
Maybe the pressure's just getting to him.

There's a whole bunch of people we just don't know enough about anyway, from
Harry's parents,  Neville's, Ron's and even Hermione's. If JKR is determined
to stay on the nurture side of the argument (we are our own choices), then
it's difficult to understand any of her characters unless we know their
history.

BTW, I don't subscribe to the notion that Ron is going to "fall" or oppose
Harry in any way. To misquote Wilde: to lose one Weasley to the Dark Side is
unfortunate; to lose two looks like carelessness. Percy is enough of a
problem, though Ron may be Harry-bait at some stage.

Well *that* was a good vent :)

ewe2

-- 
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.