What you think of Snape

[angelty]

I think he is bit a dick. He only care about his promise to Dumbledore and he would protect harry for Lily. If he truly loved Lily he would take harry in as his own and teach him in loving way.
Snape hold a grudge against Child of your bully is not right. I think Lily would have something to say about it if was still alive

[readingwizard4]

I wondered when this topic would pop up. I don't like Snape at all.

I despised him throughout the books the books and thought he was evil. The closer it got to the final book I got into the mood that he was probably good and would sacrifice himself to help Harry stop Voldemort. Pettigrew would do so as well. I'm so glad Rowling killed off Pettigrew with him helping stop Voldemort. I missed that he died the 1st time I read that. I went back after we got to Shell Cottage and liked that scene. Now to Snape, I liked that we didn't see him in person until we got back to Hogwarts. I figured before I started reading Snape and the Trio would have a confrontation or Snape would outright help them. I'm glad Rowling gave him the Silver Doe scene and the Pensieve scene. Perfect and unexpected. I like Snape in the movies as Alan Rickman and as Joe Moses in AVPM/S.

Snape is a big hypocrite to me. He hates bullies like James though I will withhold judgement until we get the whole story about the Marauder years. Assuming Snape was innocent in every single encounter over the 7 year school period which I highly doubt. He became a Death Eater after Hogwarts and used a cutting curse on James in 5th year. He also found whatever Avery and Mulciber did funny unlike Lily. This screams not innocent to me. Snape always bangs on about how James was an arrogant bully but what does he call his treatment of Harry? That is majorly hypocritical of him. Older Snape is School James reincarnated. He thinks he is master of Hogwarts (Snape's Grudge. Says it to the map). Tells Harry that he should be thanking him on bended knee (The Servant of Lord Voldemort). Snape is arrogant, end of story. He has no remorse that he was condemning a man and a child to death (James and Harry). All he wanted was to save Lily. Does Snape actually believe Lily would run into his arms if James and Harry were killed? And if it got out Snape was the one who sent Voldemort to Harry, Lily wouldn't kill him? Also with the way Snape treated Harry during the school years how can Lily forgive Snape for that. Harry was left as an orphan and Snape has the gall to call him out since it was Snape's fault Harry was an orphan? Sirius also got sent to Azkaban and Remus was left alone for 12 years and couldn't get a job. Snape got him fired from the best job he could ever get. Snape was going on about how life was unfair in OOTP movie but pray tell me how was being a potions master and getting out of Azkaban unfair? I'd rather have the Potions job than what happened to the Marauders. He also wanted to have Remus and Sirius kissed. Because he didn't get the girl and the guy you hate most did? Move on. Find a new girl. I'm okay with Snape and Narcissa fanfics. He also thinks Harry is a pampered prince but he knows Petunia hated Lily so why would she treat Harry right? So whats the the deal? Unless Dumbledore didn't tell him. Wouldn't surprise me but still. Why would Petunia treat Harry right? Snape also must have seen the memories during the Occulemency lessons so why ignore them unless he doesn't care about Harry at all. To those of you who say because he is a spy and doesn't want to arouse Voldemort's suspicion why not tell Dumbledore so he can do something about it? Also doesn't anyone else think Snape sticks out like a sore thumb? He hates everybody else except the Slytherins and Dumbledore's lets him run free. Did Snape even get in trouble for outing Remus as a werewolf? If Snape wanted to fit in treat everyone right. If Snape wanted to be the bigger and more mature person that he always claimed he was why not show Harry his memories of the school years and let Harry decide for himself.

[Kitty279]

You said a lot of what I always thought. While I don't condone what the Marauders did to him, I don't believe for one second that Snape was the innocent little angel and helpless victim he wants to be seen as. Seeing how petty and vindictive he was later - something he surely didn't only develep as an adult - I have no doubt that he retaliated in kind, with or without his Death Eater friends. I've seen the opinion that he wouldn't have had friends because he's a halfblood, but with the Gryffindor-Slytherin feud and the chance to retaliate against blood traitors, they would have gone along, I believe. Plus, we know Snape kept following the Marauders around to spy on them and find out Remus's secret and get them into trouble. And someone who developed spells like Sectumsempra while still at school (and in fifth year at the latest) isn't harmless, either.

As for these memories ... Wasn't Levicorpus another spell Snape developed? If the Marauders knew it, he and his Slytherin friends must have used it on them frequently. Pot calling the kettle black?

Then there's the infamous werewolf incident. What I find very strange is that Snape seems to have had his suspicions already, and didn't give it a rest until he could find out. Then, despite probably having guessed what Remus is, and on the word of another one he hates, he goes out on a full moon to find out if his guess is true? Oh please. Someone who does that is as much a dunderhead as he likes to call others. And of course, it's all other's people's fault and has nothing to do with his own curiosity.

Then, as readingwizard4 said, the way he acted around the Potters disgusts me. First he runs with the prohpecy to Voldemort, knowing the man would target babies. And when it suddenly gets clear that Lily would be threatened, he wants to save her, but not her husband and son. As if she would want him - particularly as I am sure he wouldn't stop badmouthing the Marauders at every turn, he can't keep his mouth shut about them, that much he proved often enough.

In OotP, Hermione and Molly seem to think Sirius is childish for still hating Snape - but it was Snape who kept baiting Sirius about not being able to do anything. Something I found particularly disgusting and as bad as Molly throwing Azkaban in his face to prove that she was the better parent. IMO it was Snape who never grew up, he's still clinging to his teenage grudges and couldn't move on from his behaviour back then.

Then we have Snape as a teacher. Honestly, he's whining about being bullied? So, what is he doing? The Marauders at least targeted someone their own age - and someone who probably deserved some of it - while Snape blatantly abused his power as a teacher to bully and terrorize children in his care. He was biased beyond belief and helped to reinforce all prejudices against Slytherin to the hilt. Ugh. And think about it - who save the Slytherins (who probably got O's for just turning up) and maybe some Ravenclaws would continue Potions after the fifth year? The man has single-handedly destroyed a whole generation of Aurors, Healers and other professions where a Potion NEWT is mandatory.

What annoys me so much is that Dumbledore never did anything against it. He was playing his political games on the back of his student's future. Why should he care for destroying their careers as long as he can have his pet Death Eater close? I don't think in a real school a teacher like Snape could have stayed for so long. Belittling, threatening and terrorising his students is no way to teach. And he complained about all the accidents. Well, then he should have EXPLAINED safety and why to do or not to do what. "Recipe is on the board, now get to work" and then walking around breathing down their necks is NOT teaching!

Personally, I don't care much for his loyality in the end. It does not make up for years of being such a nasty, vindictive bully.

[angelty]

Both of you told what I was think about snape

[dracosfairmaiden]

I agree with Kitty. It's like we're on the same wavelength.

I'm neutral about Snape. I always wondered why he held onto his grudge with the Mauraders. After a while, he should have let go of it. He was a victim but he wasn't innocent. He attacked James with all those dark spells that he invented. I can't stand it when people think he was all innocent. That said, I do think the mauraders should have eased up and they did.

His love for Lily...at first I felt sorry for him. He lost his only friend to his rival. But then it got to an obsession. I wonder what Lily would have said if she saw Snape bullying Harry all the time. That's why I like Mauraders reading fics-she gets a chance to tell Severus off.

[Miss Wings]

2 words. Sick Stalker. enough said

[Kitty279]

Jun 14, 2012 8:58:53 GMT -5 dracosfairmaiden said:

His love for Lily...at first I felt sorry for him. He lost his only friend to his rival. But then it got to an obsession. I wonder what Lily would have said if she saw Snape bullying Harry all the time. That's why I like Mauraders reading fics-she gets a chance to tell Severus off.

Another way for that would be that Lily is receiving him in the afterlife when he dies. I'd imagine she'd have a lot to say - and the way he died won't be a very good excuse for six years of abuse.

Ok, Snape didn't have a nice childhood, but neither Sirius nor Harry was better off, and they didn't take their unhappy childhood out on the rest of the world.

[kumainpink]

Neutral about Snape, myself. He's a flawed, messed up character that has done a lot of horrible things. He's bitter, callous, has a bad temper and holds tightly on to grudges. However, I do pity him.

[Kitty279]

In a way, I pity him, too. But it can't outweigh my annoyance with how he treated Harry, Neville and so many others.

[AllyJackson]

I don't hate him. Not at all. Once you get to know him, he's pretty awesome. Like Harry, he had a pretty sucky childhood and so Lily would definitely have been a highlight to all of that. Then he gets to Hogwarts and the Marauders start making fun of him because he's nerdy, a Slytherin, and likes Lily. The Death Eaters probably treated him alright, him being Slytherin and all (not to mention, he probably would not have told them about his being a halfblood) and so he joined up with them. And as we all know, our friends tend to rub off on us. The fact that he spent such a long time in Voldermort's ranks and lost the woman he loved (twice) and was still a good guy, is pretty cool.

He treated Neville badly, likely because, based off his life, he has a low tolerance for stupidity. Not that I'm calling Neville stupid. Because of the way that Neville grew up, he would have been too timid to do much in class. Serverus also would not like "show-offs" and "know-it-alls" (Hermione) due to the Marauders' influence. As for Harry, Snape couldn't have shown any compassion towards him. First of, his mere existence, not to mention his appearence, would have been a kick in the face every time he walked into the room, reminding him of all he'd done wrong. Then, there's the fact that he knows Dumbledore is 'raising him as though a pig for slaughter'. Would you want to get attached to someone you know is going to be killed? Lastly, if he were to show any kindness towards Harry, when Voldy comes back, that could be hard to explain away. Sure he could just say it was a ploy; he was just fooling Dumbledore, duh! But would Riddle actually believe that Snape's care towards LILY'S son was merely for show?

Also, I've read that some of you think him a hypocrite for hating bullies and then hurting the Marauders and "bullying" Harry and other students. I believe that I fully explained his treatment of a few key students above, so I'll skip over to the Marauders. Yes, he sent a cutting curse at James. James had started it, merely because Sirius was bored! Not to mention, the curse was most likely Sectumsempra, and after seeing what happened to Draco, Severus could have done considerable more damage.

Yes, he has done some bad things. But considering who he is, what he's done, how he grew up, and how he was treated in school, he's not a bad guy. Hating on him is like hating on Ron, because he left Harry twice. J. K. Rowling did an amazing job bringing these people to life and making them seem human. And that's exactly what Snape is: human!

[lucyolsen]

JK herself has said that Snape treated Neville badly because Voldemort didn't choose him instead of Harry.

[AllyJackson]

That doesn't mean he's a bad guy, just someone who probably feels that he's been cheated out of a lot of things. He'd be upset that Voldy didn't choose someone other than Lily's family to attack. Sure that doesn't make it right, but you think/say/do some crazy things when you're in love.

[Kitty279]

While I can see your point, I still despise him. He's taking out his own childhood on others, and frankly, the argument with Voldemort doesn't work for me. Even if he knew he would come back one day, he was so blatantly pro-Voldemort that he, in my eyes, was the worst spy ever. He doesn't need to like anyone, but he could be just a normal teacher, and say it would have raised suspicions if he favoured the Death Eaters over the light side.

As for Neville - sure, he was timid, but then Snape should have tried to HELP him more, not bully him into such a fright that he made even more mistakes! The boy was great at Herbology and that should have helped for Potions, but Snape made sure he couldn't even think clear. The man was a bastard as teacher, no doubt about it, and for me no excuse will be enough to explain that away.

Seeing that Harrys life was worse, he grew up the Dursley's personal slave, was abused, was the whipping boy for the whole wizarding world, got ostracized way too much, was bullied by a teacher, had to deal with more stress than Snape ever knew in his school days, and was still the good-hearted boy who risked his life for others, even for the little ferret, I'm not ready to excuse Snape's behaviour with his childhood.

[AllyJackson]

It's all a matter of nature vs. nuture, is it not? Harry, Sirius, Severus, and in some aspects Neville and Luna, too, all grow up in a very similar manner. They were all neglected/bullied/abused etc. Yet they all turned out so differently. As I said before, in cases like the students, Snape could likely have had a very low tolerance for what he saw as stupidity, showing off, or laziness. I know I do. Not to mention, somewhere in the books (forgot where, exactly) it mentions that Snape pretty much had to show favoritism to the Slytherins, as many of them were the children of Death Eaters. If these Death Eaters heard that Snape wasn't showing them the preference they deserved, this knowledge would have ended up back with Voldy. Bellatrix, as we know, already did not trust him. If the other DEs didn't either, Voldemort would begin to question Snape's loyalties. Actually, go back and read 'Spinner's End'. It explains a lot, especially if you read between the lines.

[Kitty279]

See, but I don't agree with that view. Snape was supposed to pretend that he was on the good side, so he could spy for Voldy, right? So, how was the light side supposed to believe that he was on their side when he was so blatantly showing favouritism for the dark side? Remember, Voldemort was gone for 14 years, and Snape never behaved any differently.
I know what the books say, but it never made any sense whatsoever to me. In my eyes, a spy is supposed to blend in, to be unconspicuous, but Snape stood out like a sore thumb. If Dumbledore, who knew about his double job, was nearly the one who trusted him, then he made something very badly wrong in my eyes. Any normal person save Dumbledore would have kicked him out post haste for not being reformed, and then he'd been useless for Voldemort.

[sherza]

Snape is ... complex.

His childhood was one of poverty and abuse (to some degree), which is always going to leave its mark, no matter who you are. And unfortunately, not everyone can turn out as well (relatively speaking) as Harry did.

And then he went in for seven years of systematic torture. Sirius made it rather clear in OotP that he and James at least hounded Snape 24 hours a day. They went out of their way to harass the crap out of him. Sirius flat-out tried to KILL Snape. Worse, from the sounds of things, most of the teachers were well aware this was going on and did nothing. And when Sirius pulled his 'little prank', Dumbledore slapped him on the wrist ... and then forbade Snape to ever speak of the incident to anyone. NICE.

Also ... he's a halfblood. In a House full of pureblood extremists during the height of Voldemort's reign.

All of this is a recipe for how you become a bitter, twisted, vengeful, angry person, folks. Even before we add in the 'mudblood incident' and becoming Voldie's stooge and then accidentally setting in motion the death of someone you cared about more than anything else (regardless what WE think the reality is, Snape thought he loved Lily).

It does not excuse his behavior, by any means. He's an awful man ... but I understand it, and I feel bad for him, and most of the time, I kind of want to go back in time, steal baby!Severus from his parents and cuddle him to pieces.

[AllyJackson]

Thank you. See? He's not bad, just someone who's had a bad time. For his entire life. The good spot was Lily, and because of his own mistakes, he lost even her.

[Kitty279]

Jun 14, 2012 13:39:01 GMT -5 sherza said:

And then he went in for seven years of systematic torture. Sirius made it rather clear in OotP that he and James at least hounded Snape 24 hours a day. They went out of their way to harass the crap out of him. Sirius flat-out tried to KILL Snape. Worse, from the sounds of things, most of the teachers were well aware this was going on and did nothing. And when Sirius pulled his 'little prank', Dumbledore slapped him on the wrist ... and then forbade Snape to ever speak of the incident to anyone. NICE.

But it was made clear that he was following the Marauders around, too, to spy out Remus's secret.
Besides, later on he got the same treatment. No matter how disgusting he bullied his students, Dumbledore just twinkled and allowed him to run roughshot over the school.

Oh, and as for the low-tolerance, someone like that just shouldn't be a teacher in the first place. Dumbledore ruined the careers of a whole generation and subjected them to permanent verbal abuse just to please Snape.

That's why in the end, I can't really feel sorry for the man. He never grew up, but took his own issues out on others.

[sherza]

Look, the Marauders were completely in the wrong there. I get really freaking irritated with people who go 'but Snape did it back!' ... THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT!!!!! The point is that the Marauders were after his ass from day one, and never, ever let up, and Snape had NO protection or support. What the HELL was he supposed to do? Let the bastards kill him and be done with it? Of course he followed them, hexed them back, and spied on them! It was either that or end up dead! In situations like that, 'turning the other cheek' just ends with you having a bruise on both cheeks. Trust me, I know. I got bullied a lot in school. Not as systematically as Snape did, but enough to know that trying to play nice and/or be the better person WILL NOT WORK. You *have* to fight back, and anyone that thinks otherwise is delusional.

It doesn't make what Snape became as an adult right or acceptable by any means ... but it makes it understandable. Honestly, I dare *anyone* to go through his life and come out the other end a bundle of sunshine and joy and perfection.

[AllyJackson]

Not to please Snape. If it were to please Snape, he would've been given the DADA position. As for the low-tolerance/shouldn't be a teacher, it was for protection/spying reasons. He knew the subject and could teach the subject. Being "nice" doesn't make you a good teacher. Knowing the subject (among other things) and being able to successfully teach your students the subject; that is what makes you a good teacher.

[Marwana]

On the one hand I find him a pathetic, sick man with a inferior complex the size of Asia. On the other hand, he does have a reason (though I have to admit that it isn't the best of reasons...).

Though, that doesn't excuse his behavior. He acts exactly the same way as the one who bullied him, and he is even more pathetic because he is/ was in a position of power.

[AllyJackson]

That's how many real people turn out. They're bullied all through childhood and possibly through young adulthood and so when they become the ones with power they fight back. I'm not saying it's good, but maybe it's the only way they know how.

[Kitty279]

As I said before, I don't believe no one would have backed Snape up against blood traitors. But ok, we just have to agree to disagree. I'll never see it your way, and you will not see it your way. I hate it when people blame the Marauders for him being nasty to the whole world, and you hate it when people blame him for hating the Marauders, that's not going anywhere.

Oh, and I'd absolutely contest the 'successful teaching'. Putting 3/4 of the school off his subject isn't successful teaching, it's pathetic. But I'm going to withdraw from this now, I don't feel like arguing in a circle.

[rachelhitsujii]

I think Snape gets too bad a reputation. Although I cannot justify his actions during and before Harry's first 4 years at Hogwarts, I believe that in the end, the way he showed discrimination against all the other houses but Slytherin and the way he treated Harry during his school years, probably saved him from Voldemort's wrath. 

How can anyone think that Lord Voldemort would accept Snape back into his ranks when he turned spy again in 4th year, if he had shown Harry kindness and respect? And about Snape not telling Dumbledore of the memories that he accessed from Harry in book 5, who is to say he didn't? We already know that Dumbledore sent Harry to live with his aunt and uncle despite the fact that even MCGONAGALL said they were horrid people. Dumbledore knew of the protection that Harry living there provided him, so he could have shrugged off any and all protests that Snape made about the fact. Just because Snape didn't show Harry all his memories, people automatically assume that he never stood up for the boy.

In the chapter "Snape's Memories" in the seventh book, I got the impression that when Dumbledore told Snape that Harry must die, he seemed extremely shocked and hurt by the thought; he had after all, spent the last 6 years looking out for Harry and making sure no harm came to him. Yes ,admittedly, he did so out of selfish reasons and because Dumbledore ordered him too, but that DOES NOT mean that he didn't eventually grow somewhat attached to him.

If he really only cared about just Lily, he could easily have decided to quit spying for Dumbledore after Voldemort's return. No instead he ploughs forward with it, without comment or hesitation. 

And in the end, no matter how badly he treated people, or how badly he was treated himself, he still gave Harry all the resources that he needed after Dumbledore's death, too bring about the fall of Voldemort. That makes him just as much a hero in my eyes, as Harry and Neville are!

[AllyJackson]

No, no, no. I'm not trying to blame the Marauders for how he turned out, not at all. They are a contributing factor, yes, but most definitely NOT the whole cause. If I had to pick a "main" cause I'd pick his parents, without a doubt! We didn't see much of them, but from what we got, his father obviously resented him and his mother didn't seem to care what Tobias did to Severus.

[Marwana]

Actually, in that case you could pick the entire neighborhood because someone must have noticed how he was treated. Or Lily as she knew about it and could have told her parents and so on...

I think you should just say it was every little thing in his life that sucked and made him the man he turned into...

[AllyJackson]

True . . . I'm just saying that if I had to pick one thing, it would be them.

[Silvertongue]

I personally love film and fanfiction Snape but not overly keen on book Snape. I think he had a shit childhood, shit school life and shit adult life. He lost his only friend because of his own mistake. And then was the cause of her death because of another mistake. And then he's manipulated into a spying position. It doesn't seem like he ever gets to truly live. It's no wonder he's a sniping snarky bastard. I don't agree with how he treats everyone and handles situations but I admire his strength and bravery (you have to be brave to continue to face Voldemort knowing that one tiny slip could end in your death).

[rikustark]

I dislike Snape in the books, but I do feel sorry for him.

[Silvertongue]

He's actually my favourite character in fanfiction. I love Sevitus (not Severitus) fics. Think they're adorable and, yes, I do know they're normally completely out of character but I don't care. He's the only one I like reading OOC. I like to see him with some happiness in his life.