As I read the books, my fascination with this spiteful, soft-voiced, strangely charismatic misfit grew. He's surprisingly intense (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Snape-Just-Snape-210125804), by far the most passionate character in the entire series, the most ambiguous (although by the end Dumbledore may have nicked that title), the most damaged. Sarcasm and scorn are his primary language. As the story unfolds, we see him write riddles in poetry, conduct a formal duel, counter unknown hexes during a Quidditch match in a desperate bid to save Harry's life. He's adept at potions, a tyrant in the classroom, a lurker in the corridors after curfew (http://zwerg-.deviantart.com/art/After-curfew-121664652). His eyes are piercing, yet dead and cold, which we eventually learn is due to the practice of Occlumency, although it doubles as a metaphor for the state of his soul. He's a Legilimens, the only one we know of apart from Dumbledore and Voldemort. He's infamous for his love of the Dark Arts, and Harry discovers that as a precocious teenager he used to entertain himself by creating new spells, the only character we ever see doing that. He has enough skill as a healer to keep Dumbledore alive after the headmaster puts Gaunt's ring on his finger (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Healing-Deathly-Hallows-63260444). And he can fly without a broom. He can fucking fly. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/And-now-ride-me-up-Testudina-Maxima-276942917)
Also, lest I forget, he loves books. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Reading-by-candlelight-22200528) How am I supposed to resist a tormented loner who loves books? (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Winter-Reading-252206063)
Amidst these flashes of brilliance and cruelty – for Snape is an unreconstructed arsehole to most people, especially students – is evidence that the house divisions mean sod-all, because Snape is a hot mess of all four combined: he has the sharp mind of a Ravenclaw, the deathless loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and the ambition that got him sorted into Slytherin in the first place – not to mention that Dumbledore, the kindly old backstabber, casually remarks that perhaps he ought to have ended up in Gryffindor after all.
Then there's love. Snape doesn't know how to, yet love he does. He loves and grieves in a way that's obviously unhealthy and obsessive, deep and soul-sucking. He keeps himself going after Lily's death primarily by means of anger and servitude, the bitterness that eats at him, his desire to defeat Voldemort. He agrees to protect Harry only as a form of self-punishment that he suffers, shall we say, ungraciously. However twisted the altruism, Snape yearns to atone. Killing himself would in some ways have been easier, but living until Voldemort rises again affords him vengeance, even if it means that Dumbledore more or less becomes his second master.
Since Snape chooses to live, he gets the chance – belatedly, seeing that it takes him until almost the very end – the chance to grow up, to learn that other people matter; to learn that yes, he will do whatever he can to save them; that he will protect the children in his care, and will sacrifice his life, no matter how stupid the reason or how culpable Dumbledore is for not warning him about the Elder Wand; and he'll manage, even with his throat torn out, to convey the heart-rending message on which their victory depends. He'll ask Harry to look down at him with his mother's eyes, and even if he's looking for Lily, it will be Harry that Snape sees as he dies (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Deathly-Hallows-memories-60878353).
There would be no brave new epilogue without that bastard Severus Snape (http://patilda.deviantart.com/art/Long-Cold-Winter-94819216), just as there would be no Boy Who Lived without Snape's heartless betrayal.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Why Snape? - pt II
Date: 2014-02-11 08:06 pm (UTC)Also, lest I forget, he loves books. (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Reading-by-candlelight-22200528) How am I supposed to resist a tormented loner who loves books? (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Winter-Reading-252206063)
Amidst these flashes of brilliance and cruelty – for Snape is an unreconstructed arsehole to most people, especially students – is evidence that the house divisions mean sod-all, because Snape is a hot mess of all four combined: he has the sharp mind of a Ravenclaw, the deathless loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and the ambition that got him sorted into Slytherin in the first place – not to mention that Dumbledore, the kindly old backstabber, casually remarks that perhaps he ought to have ended up in Gryffindor after all.
Then there's love. Snape doesn't know how to, yet love he does. He loves and grieves in a way that's obviously unhealthy and obsessive, deep and soul-sucking. He keeps himself going after Lily's death primarily by means of anger and servitude, the bitterness that eats at him, his desire to defeat Voldemort. He agrees to protect Harry only as a form of self-punishment that he suffers, shall we say, ungraciously. However twisted the altruism, Snape yearns to atone. Killing himself would in some ways have been easier, but living until Voldemort rises again affords him vengeance, even if it means that Dumbledore more or less becomes his second master.
Since Snape chooses to live, he gets the chance – belatedly, seeing that it takes him until almost the very end – the chance to grow up, to learn that other people matter; to learn that yes, he will do whatever he can to save them; that he will protect the children in his care, and will sacrifice his life, no matter how stupid the reason or how culpable Dumbledore is for not warning him about the Elder Wand; and he'll manage, even with his throat torn out, to convey the heart-rending message on which their victory depends. He'll ask Harry to look down at him with his mother's eyes, and even if he's looking for Lily, it will be Harry that Snape sees as he dies (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Deathly-Hallows-memories-60878353).
There would be no brave new epilogue without that bastard Severus Snape (http://patilda.deviantart.com/art/Long-Cold-Winter-94819216), just as there would be no Boy Who Lived without Snape's heartless betrayal.