Discuss and debate: Eileen and Tobias' home life
What do you think the Snape family home life was like? Was Tobias a frequent abuser? Did Eileen defend herself with Dark Arts? Did they both have jobs? Were they ever really in love? Please post your thoughts and theories on Snape domestic life
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First, let's start with canon. The first time we see Eileen and Tobias, the latter is verbally antagonizing his "cowering" wife. From there we can recognize who was the dominant partner in the relationship. In that scene, we also realize Severus' inherently sensitive nature, as this situation seems to be severely affecting him from an early age. Note that he's crying!
Next time we run into a glimpse of the Snape home life is two books later, when Lily asks Severus "how are things at home?" Severus responds not with tears this time, but a grumbled, facetious "FINE!" He even has a little crease forming between his eyes to note that the issue still strikes a delicate chord. And of course "yes, they're still arguing". Still, Tobias is portrayed -- both through the author and in Severus' view -- as the antagonist. He doesn't like magic, yet we are never explained as to why. Nevertheless, the fact that Rowling pointed this specific little tidbit seems to illustrate that Magic is at least one major source of Tobias' ill temper towards his wife (though there is no evidence he is [verbally] abusive towards Severus. He doesn't like Magic, and yet he is married to and has borne wizarding folk -- and highly skilled ones at that! Now that's frustrating situation, no?
The last time we run into Snape family interactions is at Severus' first time in King's Cross, where only Eileen is present to bid him farewell. Regardless of what her sour expression may have portrayed, we can at least be sure that Severus had one caring parent. Tobias' absence therefrom only further exemplifies his dislike for magic, just as we never see the Dursleys dropping Harry off there.
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