Harry Potter Fans With No Life

It´s the first time since the end of the saga, I read it lots of times before but now having the whole picture is completely different.

What do you think would cause such a drastic change in your perspective to occur?

I think knowing that Severus´ behavoir was not only because he was bullied by James & Co but also because he felt guilty about Lily´s death was the main difference.

After reading the entire series, (and in hindsight) it really does give us some more perspective into Snape's character. The only person he ever loved was Lily - period. The only person who was ever a friend to him was Lily - period. It is understandably so that he was completely deranged when he met up with Sirius in the Shrieking Shack. And we all know we have been there - so blinded by hurt/heartbreak or hatred that we cannot or will not listen to reason. Snape believed that Sirius was at fault for Lily's death (he had some personal guilt issues to contend with also). But, even if he had listened to an ounce of truth regarding wormtail as the traitor (which he didn't), I believe he wanted Sirius to be the traitor. He hated Sirius and James - not only did they bully him in school, but they also were the ones who (eventually) got to be around Lily day in and day out. Snape chose his path so he had to deal with the loss of Lily's friendship due to this.

Snape was extremely talented; exceptionally knowledgeable. It is so sad that his full potential was brought about by someone so very evil. And what a brilliant double agent he became. Deep down, he must have known that his life years were limited; was it internal strength that carried him through or his love of Lily? Curious.

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There's a point where Sirius tells Harry that Snape came to school knowing more than most 7th years. Snape was a powerful wizard all along. (I wonder which Peverell he was related to.) He wouldn't have cared to continue living without Lily (so at her demise, he was already a dead man walking), but Dumbledore convinced him the best way to avenge her was to bring the Dark Lord down (so he became the double agent he so marvelously was).

There's also a lot to be said about self-image and life-long effects of domestic violence here. Snape was more capable than Lord V, but was also that damaged little boy in the too-large-hand-me-downs, consistently doubting himself such that he chose Slytherin House, and many things that were the antithesis of Sirius and James. He didn't know how to rise above his childhood scars, but recognized those two were what he thought he couldn't be. "Dog in a manger", he lashed out at them (they were jerks, too - not blameless by any means), and the cycle spiraled downward. It would have felt better to lay her death on one who seemed to have, if not all, then more than, Snape would ever have, and re-write the history in his own head to lessen the pain of knowing the part he'd played in it with his misplaced trust.


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well said Figgy!
Yes, I so very much agree about his childhood. No matter how brilliant or powerful he was, he did not deem himself worthy. And he knew he was emotionally defeated once he confessed to Dumbledore about relaying the prophecy (bits of the prophecy) to Lord V. Anything to try and save Lily. She may never be his (so to speak) but he loved her and would do anything to try to save her.

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Exactly.
While I wouldn't want to meet him face-to-face because of his attitude and defensiveness (and hygiene), there was so much potential there that was distorted or wasted. He is quite a tragic figure.

In a lot of ways Sirius is the mirror image of Snape. He got the affluent upbringing, physical attractiveness, and from those a self-assuredness and more outgoing personality that Snape was never afforded.

Sirius and Snape had opposite driving forces.
Sirius (a pure blood) did not believe in the pure-blood mania, rebelling against it and standing up for what is right. He had little or no respect for his parent's beliefs.
Snape (a half-blood) was driven by his need to fit in; which ended up being the pure-blood mania. Makes you wonder if it was because he hated his father.

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