Why I Love HBP Snape (and Salman Rushdie Does too!)

[harmony_bites]

I was just discussing with gioiamia, who like me recs on KIA, why I love Snape. She's involved with a LJ Community that speculates about Book 7, called hpbook7thoughts. That group isn't particularly SS/HG oriented, and Gioia actually considers Harry/Ginny her OTP. She says that everyone she knows in her corner of the fandom, Snape fan or not, believes Snape is still one

Comments

[harmony_bites]

I do like Snape, if by like you mean sympathy. Yes, he's flawed. Much of the "bullying" behavior I can see being explained. I once read this really fascinating article for instance dealing with Snape as a teacher, Good Snape is Not a Square Circle. I think both Duj in "Everything I've Ever Done" and Caeria in "Pet Project" do beautifully by that.

Think Professor Kingsfield in Paper Chase (who rumor claims was based on a professor I had for Property Law...) Or a drill sergeant. Let alone that Snape might have had a role he had to play as an ersatz DE--and that I think he might be worse when Harry's around precisely because of the memories he's had of James--which is basically Dyce's theory in "Survivors."

But yes, he's damaged. Badly. So is Harry--or am I the only one who didn't notice Harry nearly kills Mundungus in HBP? The man turned purple. Harry was basically raised by wolves and I find his temper scary. Ron also has some not very attractive qualities including ones that I'd call bullying.

So, I don't dislike him--though I agree getting from canon Snape to plausibe match for Hermione is a challenge, perhaps in some ways even more postHBP where its hard to see Snape alive and free post war.

But what's the fun of writing fanfic if you stick to the obvious?

[wade_scott]

Oh, yes, I definitely give him the sympathy factor. I probably like him like Dumbledore does. I'm very sure Dumbles does not like everything Snape does. However, Dumbles sees beyond that and values Snape on Snape's terms.

Then again, isn't that how every relationship in life goes? I may not agree with everything my friends do, but I love them despite their flaws. Family members aren't perfect, but we love them anyway.

It's like Lupin (?) said: The world isn't devided between the good and the Death Eaters. It's hard to believe that someone can still be "good" even if they do something "bad" like killing. Perhaps that's why they plug their ears and close their eyes and pretend that HBP doesn't exist. Because it's easier than trying to reconcile the fact that good doesn't always equal innocent.

[wade_scott]

PS: Good to see you back. ::Sends lots of crunchy carrots to the stumped plot bunny::

[harmony_bites]

Snape also has his good qualities. Just about every one the Founders valued. Learning? Intelligence? The man rewrote his text as a teen and they still haven't caught up. Even Umbridge had to admit his students were advanced for thier level and Snape seemed to take for granted most of his students would get a "high pass" on their OWLs and he could fill a class with only "Outstandings"

IOW, he is an effective teacher and a good scholar. Ravenclaw would be proud.

He's brave. Even though he was once almost killed by a werewolf in the exact same place didn't mean he didn't rush to save Harry et al. And despite his hatred of Sirius, he took him and the others back to Hogwarts, not to waiting Dementors. Plus just the courage to keep going to Voldie, especially if his loyalities lied with AD knowing how Voldie punishes those he's less than pleased with.

Godric should be proud to have him as one of his own.

Brave, loyal, intelligent, cunning, witty--with the touch of poetry you could find in that opening speech of Snape's.

Yeah, I like him.