Snape

[Ya'aqov]

B"H I think you make good points. I agree with what you say here. Personally, I mostly interested in how and why he went to the "dark side" in the first place. Teased all the time? Or was he a double agent from the start? And, I'd like to know what made him change his mind. Fear? Morality? Epiphany?

I can't buy the book for another week. I hope I don't run into spoilers on the Web!

[[deleted user]]

I'm in the "Snape is Good" camp, but, like everyone else, I think that the story there is much more complex. I'm very interested in the "life debt" that Pettigrew now owes Harry, and the one that Snape owed James. Because James died before Snape was able to repay him, and because we know from PoA that a life debt is "magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable..." I wonder if James' debt has been inherited by Harry? At least partially? That would make for an interesting connection between Snape & Harry in book 7.

Aside from that, as Pollywaffleus mentioned, I think Snape will have to die, and I think (hope!) that there must be more to why Dumbledore trusted Snape so thoroughly. I'm really hoping that when Dumbledore was pleading with Snape at the end of HBP, he was actually pleading for Snape to kill him and save Draco, as though it was something they both knew would have to happen. Argh, accio book seven!

[Jayme]

I think that Snape is really good. I think he does like the dark arts which is why he joined up with the Death Eaters in the first place, but then got to involved. I think that Snape was in love with Lily Potter and when he realized what was going to happen after he heard the prophcey he went to Dumbledoor to try and stop it. There. Thats my ideas. Either way, I think Snape's in some trouble because it was supposed to be Draco and no one else who killed Dumbledore (if he's really dead, but who knows).

This is part of the reason I think Snape hated James so much, and in turn hated Harry so much. He was in love with Lily. I could be way wrong though, I'm just dying to find out what happens.

[Ya'aqov]

B"H Well, Samantha, I'm sure you're locked up with your book right now. Maybe someone could remind me of the debt between Snape and James. I don't remember it. I seem to remember from HBP that Lilly was decent to Snape, or at least she didn't like James wasting his time bothering him. I think that Sanpe's relationship with James and Lilly is intriguing, and maybe we'll find out more of what it was all about.

[Adam]

Back when Lupin is teaching DADA, we learn that Snape was tricked into following Lupin and the rest one night when he was changeing. James saved Snape from Lupin. That is the "debt" that is due to come back. Being Snape, I don't think it will be repaied...

[Michael]

Snape is truly one of the great characters in literature. :D

In about a week, when most are finished with the book, I'll explain why I think so.

I have always thought that Snape was the Darth Vader of this series and Chapter 33 confirmed it for me.

[Ya'aqov]

B"H Thanks, Adam!

[Mallori]

I think it just shows in life that people can surprise you and for the better.

[Danyelle]

I dont't want to give out any spoilers!! but I will say that he is my most favorite character out of the series and most definatly the most elaborate!! I will explain, like Michael said, when everyone is done :3 don't wanna ruin it for you!!

[Taraneh]

I cried for him ! from the first of chapter 33 to end!! he and Sirius are my favorite characters!

[Dayna]

I think Snape paid his "life-debt" to James by saving Harry during a Quidditch game in Book 1 or 2. I'm pretty sure it's Book 1 ... where Quirrel is trying to knock Harry off his broom.

Snape really is fascinating. He's one of my favorite HP characters.

[Angie]

I adore Snape. I just love that JKR was daring enough to not let him turn into this big, heroic character. I think a lot of people had the idea that he would end up being valiant - almost like Lockhart's projection of himself. I really admire the fact that he didn't. He was still very brave, but managed to retain the quality that made him inherently Snape - he was a huge jerk!

The conparison between Snape and Lockheart touches on something. I think that they're the complete antithesis of one another.

[Peng]

i ran into a spoiler but that didn't stop me from reading the book because the actions are all there. i'm only in to chapter 4. so, snape is good after all? is dumbledore that good a judge in character? I kinda understood his hate w/ james, sirius & lupin in their days after harry saw snape's thoughts in one of their occlumency sessions. but why does he have to kill dumbledore? is it because of the unbreakable vow with draco? dumbledore trusted him so much and was almost like a mother eagle watching him not go back to the dark side because he has always had an inkling in the dark arts (that's why james hated snape). i'll go back to my reading to find out more.

[Diar]

Always thought that there's some goodness in Snape. Think he's just a sad little boy who's trying to prove himself. Book 6 ending got me and made me craving for the next book just to give me an explanation why Snape had to kill Dumbledore and why Dumbledore trust him (in fact, made me more curious then the life n death of Harry).

I am sure everyone finish book 7 alrdy. I love the ending...!

[Brenna]

"Look at me..." + "bravest man I ever knew" == instant, unstoppable tears.

[Denta]

Taken from JK Rowling web chat transcript. Bout Severus.
I love how JK 'force' people from hating Snape, to Loving him.

*Annie: Does the wizarding world now know that snape was dumbledores man, or do they still think he did a bunk
J.K. Rowling: Harry would ensure that Snape's heroism was known.
J.K. Rowling: Of course, that would not stop Rita Skeeter writing 'Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?'

*Lechicaneuronline: Do you think snape is a hero
J.K. Rowling: Yes, I do; though a very flawed hero. An anti-hero, perhaps. He is not a particularly likeable man in many ways. He remains rather cruel, a bully, riddled with bitterness and insecurity - and yet he loved, and showed loyalty to that love
J.K. Rowling: and, ultimately, laid down his life because of it. That's pretty heroic!

[Tina]

I always thought Snape was good. The way he saved Harry in the first book. Also When Lupin turned into the werewolf in the third book and Snape put his body infront of Hermione, Ron and Harry. Snape was good.

[Kirk]

I was constantly jostled back and forth form good to bad Snape, but in the end I realized that I was wrong...I won't go on in case of spoilers. Sorry if I left you hanging.

[Kate]

Rowling has said that she gives nudges and hints, but I doubt those have included definitive answers. That said, if she said to the producers/actors/directors that Snape is a complex character and please don't pigeon-hole him as evil, well, it doesn't get a genius to work that one out.

[Jennifer]

I love Snape..I love where it went at the end...perfect and beautiful. He is by far one of my favorite characters..my face quite literally lights up when he is mentioned on a page.

[Meghan]

Read seven. I was just wondering, does anyone think that if Snape had loved Lily enough he would have cared for Harry? Honestly! He might have done good things for Harry, but Lily wouldn't have liked how Snape was treating him! Did Snape really consider this? If not, he is a jerk! Even in the end Snape still seemed rather evil and sinsiter to me!

[Jane]

I keep asking myself why Snape couldn't be nicer to Harry because I believe he truly, madly and deeply loved Lily. But I think therein lies the problem - he loves LILY and he can't overcome his jealousy that he didn't end up with her. He doesn't see Lily at all in Harry - refuses to - just sees his enemy James. James, the one who succeeded. It's Snape's tragic flaw. And maybe there is a little self-protection in it too - if he allowed himself to care for someone else as much as he did Lily, wouldn't he just get hurt again? I think this is what makes Snape so human. I love it when he snaps at Phineas Nigelles to not use the word "Mudblood" because you can see his ongoing regret at having called Lily that, lo the many years before. I also think Snape is meant to be the scale on which Voldemort and Harry are weighed. Voldemort all evil, Harry (mostly) all good. Although Harry stuggles with his own demons, they are usually equally "growing pains." Snape is an adult who makes anguishing decisions - and not always good ones.

[Adam]

To ask Voldermort to spare Lilly was a selfish thing to do. He was doing it only because he loved her, and not for the welfare of anyone else. To do good for selfish reasons is still bad. I don't care what people say. You can't do good for selfish reasons.

[Mandy]

I always thought Snape was just the meanest charecter in the enteir world! But then I read the last book. You can guess what happened.
Snape has to go through the most, and the hardest positions. I mean, think of how you would feel if you were tring to hit a Death Eater, and instead, you hit the person you were tring to protect? And then you had to act like you ment to do it. And he also has to kill Domboldore. That would just rip me apart, if I had to do it.

[Tracey]

Jane, i think you make a really good point. Snape is a character of pretty intense emotions, looking at his devotion to Lily and hatred of James. i've wondered if maybe Snape was mean to Harry because of a combination of his hatred of James and his belief that if he (Snape) had made better decisions early on, that maybe Harry would have been *HIS* son, and not James's?