Snapedom

Snape's 'Other Women'

torino10154

5/13/08 10:10 am

This should be good. ;) First a bit of canon . . . US Ed. p.740-1

"Snape's Patronus was a doe," said Harry, "the same as my mother's, because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from the time when they were children. You should have realized," he said as he saw Voldemort's nostrils flare, "he asked you to spare her life, didn't he?"

"He desired her, that was all," sneered Voldemort, "but when she had gone, he agreed that there were other women, and of purer blood, worthier of him-"

"Of course, he told you that," said Harry, "but he was Dumbledore's spy from the moment you threatened her, . . . "

I do think Voldemort has it wrong-even if Snape loved Lily obsessively, I believe he loved her as best as he was able. But Harry may have over simplified things and probably the truth lies between.

So who were these other women? Girlfriends? One night stands? Did they even exist? I just noticed for the first time that Voldemort said "he agreed that there were other women." That leaves quite a bit of wiggle room.

I would ask that we stick to canon-yes, yes, we all know he was shagging Lupin or waiting for Hermione to come of age :P but for the purposes of this discussion, please leave your favorite ship at the door.

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  question/rant, severus snape, torino's question challenge

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• (Anonymous)

  5/15/08 11:58 am (UTC)

  I completely agree with your last observation, and would add that there are a lot of men who are shy or clueless about entering into relationships, or who want something more than sex from relationships with others. This includes most of the men in my family, including a brother who didn't start dating until well after high school and who would all but propose to women on a first date, and my uncle, grandfather, and partner, all of whom had to have a woman make the first move in every relationship they were in. I know at least one of them considered prostitutes in a dry spell, but just couldn't go there for a multitude of reasons. There is nothing "wrong" with them. They are good people. Further, my brother looks like Tom Selleck, my partner a bit like Richard Burton, and the rest of them could play leads in the Godfather films. So, I agree that you can't fit all men into the "he's gotta have it" mold.
  
  I think of Snape as being like them, only more emotionally messed up. In anything I've written about him, romantic partners make the first move and have to doggedly repeat their advances to get past his barriers. I've given him the possibility of relationships, but sadly, who in canon would have put that level of effort into being with him? Especially as a ruse to mollify Voldemort -- who would put him- or herself in that position? Even McGonagall, who had known him most of his life and who I hoped was at least his friend, turned out to have no concept of who he was.
  
  As a young man, Snape was poor, with dubious prospects, which probably leaves out Death Eater dalliances. And, per JKR, Snape joined the Death Eaters hoping to impress Lily. If he was dealing on that level of delusion, he probably wasn't ready to visit a prostitute if that would dishonor his feelings for Lily or if he thought she could ever find out. He probably thought he still had a chance with her, James notwithstanding.
  
  Given his later level of cover, it is unlikely he could ever let his guard down, even around a Muggle sex worker in an anonymous encounter. He could not afford to make himself vulnerable in any way. On top of this, there was the whole Beatrice thing he had with the memory of Lily. Who could ever measure up to that? Dante only married because his family arranged it when he was a child. Snape is totally Dante to me.
  
  I'm probably the the lone voice, then, for "no relationships, died a virgin."

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  • torino10154

    5/15/08 12:03 pm (UTC)

    

    I just wanted to chime in a say bless you for mentioning Dante. I love the parallel with Beatrice (my daughter's middle name, for Beatrice Portinari in fact).

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  • shyfoxling

    5/15/08 02:45 pm (UTC)

    all of whom had to have a woman make the first move in every relationship they were in.
    
    Every relationship I've been in was that way for me (the woman). I always made the first move. Sometimes I get annoyed that it apparently means no one has ever found me attractive enough to do the pursuing, but it makes sense if you think about it: it means the sort of men I am more compatible with are the ones who themselves want to be pursued. (Or are just shy, heh.)
    
    In anything I've written about him, romantic partners make the first move and have to doggedly repeat their advances to get past his barriers.
    
    I think that's pretty accurate/reasonable/plausible whatever.

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