[the_old_crowd] A BIAS in the Pensieve: A Batty Idea About Snape

[Charme]

"Lyn":

OK folks, what follows is something I've batted around for better than a 
year now. I've
never been able to get any takers to post it as part of their own ideas, so 
I am left with
posting it on my own. or leaving it to lurk in the dark of my mind (I know, 
some may say a
place it should have remained). Given the resurgence of discussion of this 
general topic on
that big group, these thoughts may be timely, or just redundant, but I hope 
they may
provide some amusement if not provoke some thought.

Charme:

The mind...a terrible place for such thoughts and coherent sentences to 
remain, when they have so much to contribute to Potterverse. :)  Better yet, 
isn't a group like this the symbolic form of a Pensieve? :)  Please note my 
comments inline....

<snip>

The other line that has haunted me is from Snape's Worst Memory (page 647 of 
the
American Hardbound edition) when James' responds to Lily's question of what 
Snape had
ever done to James:
"Well, said James, appearing to deliberate the points, "it's more the fact 
that he exists, if
you know what I mean.." ["exists" being italicized in the original].

<snipped very good points about "exists" and Ron's "everyman" wizard 
comments>

Now James completes his statement to Lilly with the phrase, "if you know 
what I mean.."
Which I think might be read as a reference to obvious characteristics that 
everyone could
see in Snape, but also might be read as a coy statement to imply that James 
knew
something about Snape that should be apparent but obviously Lilly didn't 
know.

So what is it that is an innate characteristic of Snape that might arouse 
such enmity?

<snipped finer points of the Pensieve clues, specifically Snape's longer 
reply to one or more of the exam questions, his writing technique, and 
physical description of the teenage Snape>

But I think the chief clue can be found in what James does to Snape. James 
had almost
unlimited options, but in an almost reflexive response to Snape drawing 
blood, James
chose to hang Snape upside down. Now this is the very first time we find a 
student using
this sort of hex or curse on another, though we are quite familiar with the 
previous ones
James made ("Expelliamrus" "Impedimenta" "Scourgify") and the subsequent one 
Sirius
uses ("Locomotor Mortis"). Much discussion of this scene has focused on the 
revealing of
Snape's grey underwear, but I think the more important factor is the 
up-side-down
position. And to what do we most associate hanging up-side-down, but a bat--  
a round
shouldered, angular, skinny legged, bat. I suggest that this inverted 
posture was very
deliberate on James' part and was intended to reveal Snape for what he was, 
without
overtly saying so. The revealed gray underwear is meant by JKR to serve as 
both a
distraction and as a way of symbolizing that Snape's "dirty laundry" is now 
hung out in
public for all to see. I also think it may have been symbolic that Snape 
drew blood from
James' face, much  like a vampire bat sucking blood (again, of all the many 
possible curses
available to Snape at this time of intense stress and compromise, does he 
choose such a
situationally ineffectual one).

Charme now:

Brilliant, really, :)  I especially like the way you tied and interpreted 
the "fact he exists" James comment.  Other than the legends of bats 
associated with vampires, maybe it's of interest to you (or perhaps you 
already know) that during the Middle Ages, Christians considered bats at one 
time the emissaries of the Devil and then the incarnation of the Devil 
himself. It has qualities of both the bird and the mouse, causing it to be 
used as a symbol of androgyne and thought to depict the mystery of creation 
or life in the universe. Symbolically, bats were also used as a sign of 
jealously or envy: those emotions seem to lurk and fester in the shadows and
don't readily seek the light. Sounds like a appropriate relation to 
Snapey-poo to me. :)

I think perhaps the point Sirius makes about Snape's nose lends some clue to 
what follows in your thoughts in this note:

'I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment,' said Sirius 
viciously. There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to 
read a word.'

Bats were thought to be myopic - while I know that's been debated in the 
scientific world both ways whether they are or aren't, but who knows what 
wizards believe.  JKR might have just put that in there as a generalized 
"clue" most people would be able to get? Mind you, I think bats in the Snape 
belfry gets her off in the Snape "vampire" concept.

So I think the allusion to the bat-like Snape as associated with vampires is 
quite strong,
irrespective of JKR's half hearted denial " [Is there a link between Snape 
and vampires? JKR
replies: Erm... I don't think so." There is the possibility that JKR was 
indicating that though
she didn't consider Snape to fulfill the requirements to be a vampire in her 
world, that he
might be considered by some of her characters to be so, or at least closely 
associated with
one.]  Now I suspect (and I also suggest that this may be what JKR is 
skirting around) that
Snape is not a "full blood/full power" vampire, what ever that might be in 
Rowling's world,
but is likely a mixed breed or descendent of a vampire. It is this status 
that may well have
had Snape primed to use the "mudblood" epithet towards Lilly. Why?, because 
by being
placed in the up-side-down position Snape was not only humiliated, but he 
was
excruciatingly aware of what it represented and that his secret (and/or 
shame) was being
symbolically disclosed. Quite interestingly, even in his frustration with 
Lilly, we do not see
James (at least as of the prematurely ending of the scene), choosing to 
reveal Snape's
status overtly.

Charme again:

I found some additional info to support your thoughts when looking at 
shamanism.  Shamans (and indeed many native medicine men and spiritualists) 
frequently associated bats with death and rebirth. An upside down hanging 
position, such as the bat assumes when roosting, is seen as symbolic for 
learning to transpose one's former self into a newborn being. Thus the bat's 
appearance may signify the need for transformations, for letting go of old 
habits or ways of life and adopting new ones. Bat shows how change is 
necessary although it can be painful to let go of the past. As an animal of 
night and the dark it can also guide people through the darkness of 
confusion and help them face their fears. It is sometimes said to grant the 
gift of clear hearing and of 'listening between the lines'.  Can you say
"Snape"??   I knew you could. ;)

So, is it really all that strange that this might truly have been Snape's 
worst memory?

Now another, to my mind important, aspect of the scene is that Lupin is 
quite noticeably ill
at ease throughout the confrontation with Snape. Though he sits on the 
sidelines, he is
clearly disapproving: "Lupin was still staring down at his book, though his 
eyes were not
moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows." (page 
645), and later
in the scene, "Many of the surrounding watchers laughed.but Lupin, still 
apparently
intent on his book, didn't." (page 647). Now this may very well be due to 
Lupin's
disapproval of the bullying tactics of James and Sirius, but I'll offer 
another explanation for
consideration. What if Lupin also knows of Snape's unchosen vampire 
association? If so,
does this not place Snape and Lupin into a similar category of people who 
have not chosen
and can not escape at least one defining aspect of their being? I shall be 
even braver and
suggest that it was at this time that Lupin began to identify with Snape, 
and began to feel
empathy with him.

Charme thoughtfully:

Yep, that makes sense.  I have always thought when reading Snape's 
interaction when first bringing Lupin his potion in PoA that he sounded, 
well, almost cordial and conversational, for him anyway?

"Ah, Severus," said Lupin, smiling. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it 
here on the desk for me?"

Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and 
Lupin.

"I was just showing Harry my grindylow," said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at 
the tank.

"Fascinating," said Snape, without looking at it. "You should drink that 
directly, Lupin."

"Yes, Yes, I will," said Lupin.

"I made an entire cauldronful," Snape continued. "If you need more.

"I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."

"Not at all," said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didn't 
like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful.

The "unsmiling and watchful" I can relate to Snape knowing Sirius, who was 
Lupin's friend, is loose and that Lupin's a werewolf and Snape's suspicious 
of Harry being along with Lupin.  However, what gets me is the "I made an 
entire cauldronful if you need more" and the "not at all."  From Snape 
almost conversational, helpful, that.

Throwing all caution to the winds, and without one whit of canon for 
support, I shall
suggest that the Prank occurred not because Sirius was intent on Snape's 
death, but that
Sirius believed it would force Snape to reveal some vampire aspect of 
himself (be that a
bat animagus, the ability to turn into a bat as part of his vampire like 
powers, or some
other aspect of his being that is along these lines) to save himself from 
the werewolf. For
Sirius, it would be a case of poetic justice administered to Snape for 
snooping into Lupin's
compromised status.

Charme, tongue in cheek:

Ooooo, those canon-only addicted Potterheads are gonna *git us.* ;) Quick, 
where do I send the donation for their support? :)

Now one of the aspects of the Prank that has always been so troublesome is 
that it was
never made public. I submit this is because there were two secrets to 
maintain, Lupin's
and Snape's. To reveal one would have resulted in the other becoming public 
as well, so
some of the source of Snape's lasting resentment may well have been that he 
had to
remain silent about a volitional wrong against him, in order to assure 
silence about a
personal characteristic that he had no choice in acquiring and can not 
change.

I also believe that the Prank cemented a bond between Lupin and Snape, and 
led to a
friendship of sorts.  It was his friendship (or at least overtures of that 
sort) with Snape that
caused Lupin to become the Marauder first suspected of being a spy. Again, 
not a whiff of
canon to support this friendship (except, just maybe in its very absence), 
but there are two
pieces of canon that do become interesting to consider in light of these 
speculations. One
is how nonplussed Lupin is with Snape assigning that Werewolf essay, and how 
Lupin then
assigns a Vampire essay. It is almost like this is an inside joke between 
them. Second, in
OOTP when Sirius and Lupin learn of Snape discontinuing the Occulemency 
lessons, it is
Lupin who states he should be the one to talk to Snape. Why Lupin? , because 
they were
once friends.

A trivia footnote: There is a specific species of North American bat, the 
Pallid bat,  that is
able to catch and eat scorpions, being immune to scorpion venom. It can 
detect insects
simply by listening for footsteps.

Charme again:

I agree this is all probable. I also think James and Sirius, who admitted in 
the Shrieking Shack that he thought Lupin was the spy, may have suspected 
Lupin simply because he did have or maintained a friendship during that time 
with Snape who at that time was known as DE before he converted to spy for 
DD. If you've watched the PoA movie, which JKR has acknowledged contains 
foreshadowing for future books, Lupin talks about Lily and her kindness and 
belief in him.  Could be if that's really true, Lily understood and 
supported Lupin in his friendship with Snape, while James and Sirius were 
suspect of it.

Your "trivia" footnote is more than trivia - bats hear so well, wouldn't 
this be absolutely perfect for a spy? Bats also eat spiders and 
cockroaches....where have we seen those before? ;)

Great post and many thanks :)

Charme