He was not elected by the Board of Trustees (or whatever), therefore Hogwarts may not recognize him as a rightful Headmaster, even though he was following Dumbledore's orders
However, in OotP, we learn that Umbridge cannot gain the Head's office because the office will only open to the RIGHTFUL Head, and is protected by many spells. Granted, Snape worked there for - what - fifteen years? Sixteen? I still doubt he could have gotten in if the school (which is a sentient being; again, see OotP) didn't consider him the rightful Head.
As to why there's no portrait? Hmm . . . *considers* perhaps because of the conditions under which he left. We don't have histories for most of the Heads, but we know that Dilys Derwent, Armando Dippet, and Albus Dumbledore all died while still holding the Head's office (check the dates on Dilys' portrait at St. Mungo's). Phinaeus Nigellus we don't know about. But perhaps the only Heads with portraits are those who died in office, while Snape absconded or, as McGonagall put it, "did a bunk." Obviously we have no way to prove that.
Another option is that Rowling simply disliked him so much that she decided he didn't deserve a portrait, which I would consider petty and small on her part. She created him, it's her fault he turned out a certain way (if you want to look at it like that), she shouldn't be taking such a personal vendetta against him as she seems to be doing.
Another option is that Rowling simply disliked him so much that she decided he didn't deserve a portrait, which I would consider petty and small on her part.
Yeah . . . you know, I really think it's very unfair of her to be so nasty in regard to characters she simply doesn't like. I mean, when I write fanfiction all kinds of nasty things tend to happen to Malfoy, but on the one occasion that I killed him, he did get a funeral and people actually mourned (okay, his mum mourned, his dad was rotting away in Azkaban). It's not like I just left his body laying in the freakin' Shrieking Shack and forgot about him!
I think it's sad that Rowling was a French professor and is twice my age, and I'm a theatre major who just has this little knack for writing, and people actually want me to rewrite DH because they think I'd do a better and fairer job of it than Rowling did (after getting two requests via email, I put a post on my journal and people I don't even know are showing up to ask me to please, yes, rewrite it). I suppose the only argument in her favor is "the good don't prosper" and "bad things happen to good people." Just look at Malfoy. Snape dies! Malfoy's going bald! Really, who got the worse deal here?
Wow, that's amazing that people are asking you to rewrite it. I'm not familiar with your writing, though, so that's not a judgment there. It's just amazing that the fandom is turning to each other for a suitable resolution.
I'm writing a novel (dunno if I'll ever finish) and I've been watching this whole situation develop over the years: the fandom and JK's relationship to it and so forth. It's been very educational to say the least.
Well, my original HP writing wasn't even fit for human consumption (I was 14 at the time . . . there are Sues . . . *ducks flying objects* I'd delete the whole stupid thing if I could remember my password to the Pit . . . ), but more recently I started writing RENT and had the distinct honor of being called "the best writer in fandom." Don't know if it's true or not, but apparently I'm good at the very least.
I just hope I can live up to the task. The more I think about it, the more I think my resolution to the Harry vs. Voldemort thing might just not fly . . . it's a bit of a stretch.
And I have to agree, especially given JKR's inability to see Snape as a hero, that she probably doesn't like/care for him as a character the way a lot of fans did.
I completely agree with the theory that we don't know about Snape's portrait simply because JKR doesn't like him.
It really makes me sad that JKR has to constantly depreciate Snape's value in the series. It seems as though 'true' Snape afficionados--such as us--are destined to have a love-hate relationship with her/with canon. It makes me think back to my college literary theory class--Foucault and the 'death of the author': If the world didn't have JKR's personal perspective on Snape--and he were permitted to stand in his glory on the page as is--I think he'd be seen very differently. I feel quite certain that readers would paint him as the true hero of the story.
However, in OotP, we learn that Umbridge cannot gain the Head's office because the office will only open to the RIGHTFUL Head, and is protected by many spells. Granted, Snape worked there for - what - fifteen years? Sixteen? I still doubt he could have gotten in if the school (which is a sentient being; again, see OotP) didn't consider him the rightful Head.
As to why there's no portrait? Hmm . . . *considers* perhaps because of the conditions under which he left. We don't have histories for most of the Heads, but we know that Dilys Derwent, Armando Dippet, and Albus Dumbledore all died while still holding the Head's office (check the dates on Dilys' portrait at St. Mungo's). Phinaeus Nigellus we don't know about. But perhaps the only Heads with portraits are those who died in office, while Snape absconded or, as McGonagall put it, "did a bunk." Obviously we have no way to prove that.
Another option is that Rowling simply disliked him so much that she decided he didn't deserve a portrait, which I would consider petty and small on her part. She created him, it's her fault he turned out a certain way (if you want to look at it like that), she shouldn't be taking such a personal vendetta against him as she seems to be doing.
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That's probably the truth of the matter, alas.
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I think it's sad that Rowling was a French professor and is twice my age, and I'm a theatre major who just has this little knack for writing, and people actually want me to rewrite DH because they think I'd do a better and fairer job of it than Rowling did (after getting two requests via email, I put a post on my journal and people I don't even know are showing up to ask me to please, yes, rewrite it). I suppose the only argument in her favor is "the good don't prosper" and "bad things happen to good people." Just look at Malfoy. Snape dies! Malfoy's going bald! Really, who got the worse deal here?
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I'm writing a novel (dunno if I'll ever finish) and I've been watching this whole situation develop over the years: the fandom and JK's relationship to it and so forth. It's been very educational to say the least.
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I just hope I can live up to the task. The more I think about it, the more I think my resolution to the Harry vs. Voldemort thing might just not fly . . . it's a bit of a stretch.
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And I have to agree, especially given JKR's inability to see Snape as a hero, that she probably doesn't like/care for him as a character the way a lot of fans did.
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It really makes me sad that JKR has to constantly depreciate Snape's value in the series. It seems as though 'true' Snape afficionados--such as us--are destined to have a love-hate relationship with her/with canon. It makes me think back to my college literary theory class--Foucault and the 'death of the author': If the world didn't have JKR's personal perspective on Snape--and he were permitted to stand in his glory on the page as is--I think he'd be seen very differently. I feel quite certain that readers would paint him as the true hero of the story.
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