Will we ever find out the truth about Professor Snape?

[mynameisrene]

As I'm sure you all know by now, Snape basically loathes Harry with ever fiber of his being. This most likely stems back to the hatred Snape held for Harry's father. James Potter was popular, good at Quidditch, and went out with Lily Evans, and Snape was very jealous. But could Snape's attitude towards life and the people in it be stemmed even further back; possibly to a troubled childhood? Harry saw Snape hiding in a corner while his parents fought in the pensive during an Occlumency lesson. Could this be a clue to Snape's behavior? Another thing that I've been wondering about is WHY Snape has always been so into the Dark Arts. Maybe he just finds them interesting and used them in his work as a Death Eater. However, now that he's out of the fold and has a clean slate, why won't Dumbledore laet him teach DADA? Maybe he's afraid that Snape still isn't quite over his obsession with the Dark Arts? There's definitely a lot of mystery surrounding Severus Snape, and I hope to learn more about him in the future 2 books. Any thoughts?

[miss_flow]

Erm...maybe it will bring him back to his 'dark' side?

[atherella]

I'm not trying to police the threads by any means, but there are quite a few threads that you might want to post your thoughts in that relate to what you wrote. At the very least, you may want to check them out for reference. Hope you don't take offense, because I definitely agree there is a lot to learn about Snape.

Here are some threads you may find particularly useful
Feedback for The Guilt of Severus Snape

Snape loved Lily?
(That could be yet another reason that Snape hates James, and resents Harry, although I'm not sure I buy into that theory, but it's definitely interesting.)

Why does Snape dislike James Potter?

Why did Snape join with Voldemort in the first place?

SEVERUS SNAPE: Simple grudge or something more?

The Young Severus Snape v2
(This thread is very interesting and discusses much of what you posted. There is also a version 1, the link is in the first page of that thread I linked you to.)

Why does Dumbledore trust Snape? Will something major be revealed?

Which side is Snape really on? v2
(there's also a version 1 of this thread also. Same thing, link is on the first post of that thread.)

Trust Snape - Never!

Are Snape and James cousins?

Can Snape really be trusted?

Snape and his parents

All About Severus Snape

Wow, that's a lot. Hopefully at least one or more of them will be helpful to you. There's so many unanswered questions about Snape. Can't wait to find the answers!!!

[miss_flow]

Yes snapes rather a mystery don't you think?

[tantrix]

Maybe he lived in a house very similar to Grimmauld Place..

[laCroSseLoOf]

I think because the series is nearing it's end () we will learn a lot in a short period of time (especially about Snape), and yes, I think the fact that Snape had a troubled childhood, and school life, led him to take interest in the Dark Arts. Look at kids now... just an example would be the Columbine school shootings in Colorado. The murderers were kids who were tormented and teased, kind of reminds you of Snape....

I felt bad for him when Harry broke into his thoughts and we saw him crying in the corner and his parents fighting. When kids are in a position like that I feel so bad for them.

[mynameisrene]

Do you think that Snape will ever join up with the Death Eaters again, or do you think that that part of his life has come to a close and he will remain loyal to the Order of the Phoenix? I mean, with all that's been going on with Harry in all the books, he never does seem very pleased with his stance within the Order, and though I like to believe that he's innocent, he still seems rather suspicious to me.

[whsswim]

I know we'll find out more about snape's work for the order and his past prolly... but I really really don't think he's still on the dark side.

1.) Dumbledore trusts him. We'll prolly find out why for that as well, but that's a huge one in itself.

2.) For the whole series, the kids have been like "snape's evil! snape's evil!!" and I think that Jo would never ever make something that obvious.

3.)Everyone think's he's evil just b/c he's head of Slytherin house and isn't nice to Harry - remember that we get a very biased view of Slytherin because the book is told in the view of Harry, a gryffindor. And Snape has his own reasons for not liking harry, and we already know those

[steph_HPfan]

I'm sure we will find out the truth about Snape because I think that might be a major theme in the next books. Ooh La La, a tantilizing thought!

[DayVirgo]

I think there is a lot that we are going to find out about Severus Snape. He is quite the mystery. I don't think that he will ever return to the Death Eaters. He has already strayed too far from them to still be considered loyal to Voldemort (or so we think. He could be a double agent, which would make Snape so much cooler).

[Kidney Pie]

Well, I think JK asked once why everyone liked Snape or were so mystified with him. I think the reason is because some of us want him to redeem himself and turn out to not be such a bad guy. But our ideas of what Snape should be and do are not the same as JK's. If she wanted, she could rewrite his charactor to be different from the one she had first invisioned. That is, she could give us what we want. But I doubt JK is going to give everyone what they want unless it is the same as what she wants. If it doesn't fit the story, then it won't happen.

I really do like Snape though, and I hope he decides to help Harry. Part of me really thinks he has been trying to help Harry from the beginning, in his own way. He and Harry may never be good friends, but I hope they gain enough respect for one another. I can't see Snape breaking down and crying and telling Harry he is sorry he treated him like garbage, but I can see Snape making some sort of remark such as, "I've been wrong about you, Potter. For this I am sorry." Something like that.

[Polychrome]

Personally, I think Snape's on the light side. Not that he doesn't have his own motives. His reasons for siding with Dumbledore could be anything from revenge to genuine interest in being good. Most likely, it's just the life debt to Harry's dad or some other thing that keeps him in check. Until he learns to push aside his grudges, which is unlikely, I doubt he'll be anything but grumpy 'ol Snape.

[koetje]

well think he really wants to make up with the world for al the bad things he did but can't because he still hates himsell and we all know you can't love someone when you don't love yourself. Though I think we will find out more about him

[Kimmetje]

JKR said in an interview that we'll find out why Snape was a DE and it seems to me that it might be important to the plot in the end. I'd like to read about him and James's problem as I loved the chapter Snape's worst memory...

[Starlight]

I'm certain we'll learn the truth about Snape. JKR said in an interview that we'll get all the backstory (not just Snape's) we need, so we should learn all that needs to be known.

[lupislune]

I agree that Snape is mysterious, and I do think we will find out more about him, but I believe that Snape in way was created to draw our attention to him and away from some other important plot points about another character or theme.

This is along the lines of the idea: make a lot of noise over there (Snape) while you can do something over here that goes undetected (some new idea / secret character info, Dumbledore perhaps / major plot hint).

Remember how Snape in the first book is thought to be the one after the stone, but in reality it was Quirrel. I think this is a clue as to how JKR plans to use Snape as a literary device.

[ParselTongue]

I always figured Snape was never appointed the job because of his and Harrys dislike for one another. As we have seen Harry doesnt do well in potions, until its a difrent teacher (owls test) and he does quite well. I just dont see Harry learning what he needs to with Snape as a DADA teacher. Im almost certain Snape was only a DE to spy for DD.

[Dumbledores Sis]

Ok yes yes yes, i believe that we are gonna learn loads about snape. He is a very important character who i belive is going to teach us loads about harry and the world he lives in.

[Shiftly]

I like Snape actually, I just wish he would grow up and let go of this whole hatred of Harry. I mean the Dark Lord is back now and the only real chance of stopping him is Harry and Snape's just being spiteful.

I really hope we see more of him in books six and seven. He turned against Voldy and that takes courage and he hasn't exactly been treated well by the other side.

[dolly]

I think that will be one of the stories in the next books-everythng about Snape. (I cant wait until the next books! Does anybody know when book 6 is out?)