So what do we really think is going on with Snape? Here are some of our theories! We did not come up with all of them ourselves, as most Snape theories are on many websites and have been circling the net for ages (well, you know what I mean). Got one to send us? We don't have to agree with it, but as long as your Snape theory is well-supported by canon, we'll post it! It doesn't have to follow one of these topics, either. It just has to involve Snape. We reserve the right to clean-up your language if need be. You can send your theories and rants here, along with your nickname and e-mail address (if any) you want it posted with. Onward!
WM Zardi-In my opinion, yes, canon Snape really does hate canon Harry (although the fanfic I'm writing at the moment says otherwise). Why could this be? I really don't agree with one of the most popular theories, which says that Sev was in love with Lily, and therefore has a grudge against Harry, the child who should have been his. To me, this seems unrealistic, as our Sev would not likely have a chance to fall in love with a Gryffindor. I think Snape's hatred for Harry is a combination of two things. First is the fact that James got so much attention when they were in school. JKR tells us that Snape knew more hexes and curses when he entered Hogwarts than most of the seventh years knew. This suggests a dark background, but also tells us that Severus was very intelligent. However, he got no recognition for this. All the fame instead went to James Potter, who was a Quidditch star, and was very popular among classmates and teachers. This could have easily instilled a certain amount of jealousy in Severus, as it would in any person, to see his own recognition go to someone else. Then James's son becomes savior of the wizarding world through no action of his own: he was saved by his mother's love, and not by his own decisions. When Harry starts at Hogwarts, all Severus sees is a lazy, spoiled brat who becomes an icon through nothing but luck. Meanwhile, Severus's own intellect goes completely unnoticed, overshadowed again by a Potter.
I believe this is the most plausible explanation. After all, we must not forget Sev's reaction to losing the Order of Merlin in PoA. From this, we know how ambitious he is, and we know just how much he wants that recognition.
~WM Zardi
i think snape hates harry because he doesn't like james and his parents friends and stuff, so he's holding a grudge against james' kid instead of holding a grudge and actually getting a response from it, against james and co.
~god~
WM Zardi-This is a tough one, and I have several explanations.
1. It could be because of Severus's background. We know that he entered Hogwarts knowing more about the Dark Arts than most seventh years, so we can assume that he had a dark--perhaps pureblood--background. If his parents taught him to despise muggles, this would have given him the mindset he needed to join Voldemort.
2. It could also be Severus's need for recognition that caused him to join Voldemort. We know that James Potter received all the recognition at Hogwarts--Quidditch champion, favorite student, Head Boy--leaving Severus, who was much more intelligent, with nothing to reward his labors. We know of the lengths Severus will go to for recognition (consider again PoA, when he tries to turn in Sirius), so it is logical to think that Severus would go to Voldemort for recognition if he could not get it from Dumbledore. Voldemort is obviously not stupid, so he could promise Severus all the fame and recognition he wanted if he would only join him. This leads me to my third explanation...
3. Disillusionment. A lot of teenagers tend to be rebellious and see problems with the world in which they live. They try to come up with ways to "fix" things in the world, but ultimately become frustrated and disillusioned with the flawed adult world. I can see Voldemort taking advantage of this, making promises "out the wazoo" to these children: promises of riches, fame, protection, recognition...you name it, whatever they want. Perhaps Severus only joined because of the promise of fame. Or perhaps Voldemort made his cause seem much more noble. For example, maybe he said he was "protecting and ensuring the future of magic" rather than saying he was "killing muggles, 'mudbloods', and anyone who opposes me." Perhaps Severus wanted to protect the future of magic, but did not know he would have to kill muggles if he joined Voldemort? To me, this seems the least plausible reason of the three--I, personally, put the most faith in the first one--but who knows...
~WM Zardi
i think snape went to voldy because all of his happy little friends did too, so it might of been peer pressure, y'know? or maybe he got drugged or something ::shrugs:: or perhaps he was just at an extremely negative point in his life, and figured that if he went to voldy, he could be in a cult that would share the same problems and stuff, and then he goes out with his happy little friends and kill innocent mugglez.
~god~
WM Zardi-Again, there are several possible explanations, and they largely depend on why you think Sev joined Mr. Tom Riddle in the first place.
1. Disillusionment with Voldemort. Perhaps Severus got sick of all the killing. Or perhaps he got sick of being treated like a slave by Voldemort. He didn't get the respect or glory that he deserved, so he switched sides.
2. Moral turn-around. I think most of us Snape fans hope that Sev had a moral turn-around, and so decided to leave Voldemort. He realized that muggles weren't so bad...at least not so bad that they deserved to die. This signifies that, either he had a decent upbringing, or he has a strong enough character that he was able to work past the bad examples of his youth.
~WM Zardi
and i think that snape turned from voldy cuz he realized what was really happening, and that mugglez are dying 24/7 and there is absoloutely nothing wrong with us and that voldy's happy little opinions aren't exactly happy and snape realizes that voldy is only killing muggles and muggle borns because he's holding a grudge against his dad for abandoning his wife (which, i might add, that a lot of guys do, whether magic or muggle, shame shame). erm...my other idea is because the drug wears off, and my other possibility is that he's over that typical "oh the world should die, woe is me" teenager period in his life, and sees the blindingly bright side (it burns! it burns) and goes back to dumbly dorre.
~god~
***More to come, when I'm less lazy. In the meantime, send us some theories of your own!
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