A difficulty in writing Snarry featuring mature!Harry

[ptyx]

The problem is, most readers are asking us to write older!Harry, but at the same time they want Harry and Snape to hate each other

Comments

[somniesperus]

I agree with others that you're lucky to hate nobody. I can't think of anybody I really hate--that is, people I have regular, personal contact with. People like President Bush are another matter entirely. *g

[ptyx]

I agree with you about Bush, but this is the kind of hate that is social, political and impersonal.

Hee, I think I'm really weird, because I know more than one Snape in RL, and I like them very much. It's just a question of not letting yourself be crushed by them ;-). You have to make them respect you.

But I understand why Harry hates Snape now. What is hard for me to see is a Harry who already knows Snape is not his ennemy, and continues to hate him. I know: Snape was, in a way, responsible for Harry's parents' deaths, but even so.

As for Snape, I see him as very immature, and it doesn't matter how old he is ;-).

[imkalena]

So it's the all-consuming aspect of the hate that you can't grasp in a mature person?

(That's not a rhetorical question; I'm not sure where the line is between hating someone and despising them . . . or something?) If I can hate someone and love him at the same time, I can surely hate someone else and have some respect for her at the same time . . . which is what I can see Harry doing. Getting Harry over the hate is the part I always look for, of course . . . because that's just the kind of gal I am. :)

I don't care much for hatesex, because that doesn't resolve anything. I like my resolutions, and want these people to be happy. It is a little strange that I want them to be happy *together*.

[ptyx]

Oh, despising is a feeling I know very well. I despise many, many people. If this is a mature feeling or not, I can't tell you ;-). I think the difference between despise and hate is that hate is consuming. Maybe not all-consuming, but consuming. I think despising is healthy, while hating is not. Maybe it's just an issue of definition, I don't know.

I believe you can love and hate, but not love and despise... Why is that? Exactly because hate is a very personal feeling, IMO.

[imkalena]

I would actually avoid Snapish people like the proverbial plague. I don't have any interest in trying to make people respect me, it's too much work. If they do, that's good, if they don't, I walk away from them. It's fortunate for me that I work with easygoing people. I love library staff. :) Libraries really do attract a certain kind of person, overall.

[ptyx]

As I work at home, I don't have to deal with people very much. Maybe that's why I don't hate anyone!

[ptyx]

Oh, but don't forget that Snape has a protective side. I think Draco, for instance, should be very thankful for having him by his side. Snapes can be fiercely loyal.

[somniesperus]

What is hard for me to see is a Harry who already knows Snape is not his ennemy, and continues to hate him.

Well, Harry's personality also has to factor in to that. He can have kind of a hot temper, and I can see that lasting into his adulthood. So, that *plus* his history with Snape *plus* the fact that Snape is a huge asshole...I guess I just have no problem believing that adult!Harry can hate Snape. He seems pretty different from you. *g*

[ptyx]

Ha! It's true, I seldom identify myself with Harry. I identify myself with Snape sometimes ;-). In fact, the only person in HP series who resembles me is Remus. But I don't like him very much :P

*is weird*