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All Because of James
by Fardo and the Dungeon Queen
January 21, 2005
Why Snape Hates Harry and Why He Switched Sides
Note: All page numbers refer to the British hardback editions.
From his very first potions lesson, Harry is convinced Severus Snape hates him.
"At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had got the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions lesson, he knew he'd been wrong. Snape didn't dislike Harry - he hated him." (The Philosopher's Stone, chapter eight, p.101)
Many Harry Potter enthusiasts have debated the reasons Professor Snape loathes Harry. I would like to discuss with you why I feel Snape hates Harry.
Evil or not?
Before discussing Snape's hatred of Harry, we first must first decide whether or not Severus Snape is evil. To be honest, I don't think he is. Of course, he was a Death Eater, and as a Death Eater he must have done some appalling and dreadful things. However, Snape became spy for the good guys for some reason. In the chapter, "The Pensieve", in The Goblet of Fire, we read how Karkaroff tries to buy his way out of Azkaban by naming alleged Death Eaters. Karkaroff identifies Snape as a Death Eater.
"Dumbledore had got to his feet. 'I have given evidence already on this matter,' he said calmly. 'Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us at great personal risk.'" (Goblet of Fire, chapter thirty, p.513)
Opinions differ regarding Snape's role as a spy. Some believe he is working undercover for Dumbledore spying on Voldemort. Others believe Snape is actually spying on Dumbledore while still in Voldemort's service. I will trust Dumbledore in this case, and assume Snape did indeed rejoin the good side.
Not only does Snape work for Dumbledore, Snape teaches students potions at Hogwarts. I do not believe Dumbledore would hire a dangerous or evil man and allow him direct, unsupervised contact with children. Snape also saves Harry from 'Quirrelmort' during the Quidditch match in Harry's first year. I don't believe Snape would have protected Harry if he was truly evil-hearted. Though Snape is dreadful to the students in his Potions classes, though he has a nasty personality, and though he doesn't seem to have any sense of humour, there is no evidence to suggest he is overtly evil.
The way people's minds work
After Harry has defeated 'Quirrelmort' in The Philosopher's Stone, Harry asks Dumbledore if it's true that Snape hates him because Snape hated his father. Dumbledore explains they quite detested each other, just like Harry detests Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore explains that James saved Snape's life (he saved him from Lupin the werewolf, we learn in The Prisoner of Azkaban) and Snape never forgave James for that. Of course, Harry doesn't understand this.
""'Yes...' said Dumbledore dreamily. 'Funny, the way people's minds work, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt ... I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father quits. Then he could go back to hating your father's memory in peace...'" (Philosopher's Stone, chapter seventeen p.217)
We all know that when one wizard saves another wizard's life, they have some kind of connection - a wizard's debt. I imagine Snape detested being in indebted to James Potter, and he may have worked hard to protect Harry during that first year to repay his debt to James. But does that give Snape a reason to hate Harry?
Reasons
Some think Snape hates Harry because he is James's and Lily's son. They allege Snape loved Lily during their Hogwarts days, and that Harry is the living proof of Snape's rejection - Lily chose perfect James Potter to share her brief life with and not greasy-haired Severus Snape. I don't think this is a valid argument. Snape calls Lily a mudblood when she tried to stop James and Sirius bullying him. Even if we had proof that Snape was infatuated with Lily, I don't believe it is that clear-cut. Snape's hatred seems to go deeper than just the passion for a fiery redhead.
Others theorize Snape hates Harry because Harry looks so much like his father. Harry is a constant reminder to Snape of the wizard's debt he owes James- a debt Snape will never be able to repay due to James's untimely death. Snape is powerless to pay off the debt, and Snape despises feeling powerless! Still others suggest Snape's hatred is due to Harry's notoriety and fame. Harry was legendary and popular before he could even talk. When Harry attends Hogwarts, he is a talented and respected Quidditch seeker. Snape, who was always bullied at school, who seems to have had a difficult situation at home, is envious of Harry. Snape desires popularity, recognition, and success. Snape never emotionally matured. He can't control his envy and winds up hating Harry.
Although the latter reasons for hating Harry could very well be accurate, there is a greater and more important reason Snape loathes Harry. Severus Snape feels like a failure, and Severus Snape feels guilty. Snape feels guilty because he was unable to repay his wizard's debt to James Potter by saving him from death at Voldemort's hands, and a failure because he was unsuccessful in preventing James's death.
It was because of James
It was because of James Potter and not Lily that Severus Snape switched sides and became a spy for Dumbledore. Let me explain. Snape, who I believe has enough of a conscience to know right from wrong, feels he should have done something to prevent Voldemort from killing James. As a Death Eater, Snape was informed of Voldemort's plan to visit James and Lily and their baby, and not just to drink a bottle of butterbeer with them. No matter how much he loathes James, Snape can not deny his debt to James for saving his life. Snape has to act to repay that debt. Being a Death Eater complicates his position. First, Snape has to notify James without drawing Voldemort or any Death Eaters' suspicion. Second, as a Death Eater Snape does not exactly have a lot of friends who will help him. Snape has only one person to turn to- one person who believes in second chances- Dumbledore. They agree Snape can not simply walk away from Voldemort. Snape decides to inform Dumbledore about everything he learns about Voldemort's plans, hoping that Dumbledore and the Order can act to stop Voldemort. Unfortunately, Snape is too late and James is killed. Snape feels guilty and frustrated because he couldn't repay his debt and save him.
Miraculously, baby Harry survives Voldemort's deadly Avada Kedavra curse. Voldemort is nowhere to be found. Everyone wonders why Voldemort did not succeed in killing Harry and how Harry stopped Voldemort. The world breathes safely again, and Snape locks himself in his dungeon, feeling worthless because a one year old baby succeeded in doing what he could not- stop Voldemort.
To make it more difficult for Snape, Harry is almost an exact replica of James Potter: he physically looks like James, he is a talented Quidditch player, and he wanders around Hogwarts at night with his friends disregarding Hogwarts' rules just like James and the Marauders. Harry constantly reminds Snape of his failure to protect James and his inability to repay his debt to James. No wonder Snape hates Harry. Snape never healed emotionally from these old wounds, and Harry's continued success in fighting Voldemort makes Snape feel even more inadequate and incompetent.
Emotions
As a "professional" and a master Potions teacher at Hogwarts, Snape appears to struggle in his role as an educator. Snape is unable to control his anger and frustration towards Harry. He ridicules Harry in front of his peers in class, deducts as many points as he possibly can from Gryffindor, and shows no compassion or sympathy in his one-on-one occlumency lessons with Harry. Snape appears to openly antagonize Harry cautioning him that people who wear their emotions up their sleeves make easy targets for Voldemort. Snape appears uncomfortable and awkward with kids- especially the raging teen Harry has become in The Order of the Phoenix who simply is incapable of turning off his emotions. Is Snape's antagonism towards Harry when he warns what an easy target Harry will make for Voldemort just another way of torturing Harry, an act that is rooted in hatred? Or might Snape have been warning Harry that it was Snape's emotions and frustrations with James and Sirius that made him such an easy target for Voldemort? Might Snape still be attempting to repay his debt in spite of his personal disdain for Harry?
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore tells Harry he may not regret his decision to spare Peter Pettigrew's life. Peter is now indebted and connected through a wizard's debt to Harry for saving his life. The time may come when Harry may yet be glad he made that decision. In the future, will Severus Snape ever willingly accept that James Potter saved his life? Will Snape make a significant contribution towards Voldemort's fall - a contribution which will repay his debt to James and which will bring Snape a sense of triumph and success? Or will his anger, guilt and sense of failure, which resulted in his hatred of Harry, be the only things left of the connection and bond between James and Snape? |
User reviews
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| Natasha |
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| 2006.07.09 |
I would like to say i whole-heartedly believe everything "heartbeat harry" ...
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| roselposel28 |
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| 2006.07.08 |
wow! WOW! OMG i loved the way you backed up everything! wow I can so unders...
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| marierox |
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| 2006.07.07 |
that was very thought-provocking..-. although, i must think if snape really...
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| Cecila |
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| 2006.07.06 |
That was a great review! I just have one thing to say though, I believe tha...
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| heartHpot |
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| 2006.06.28 |
Snape loved Lilly, he called her mudblood because he was just projecting th...
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| heartbeat harry |
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| 2006.06.16 |
Hey Fardo and Dungeon Queen,I whole heartedly accept your point of view.Fra...
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| Sara B |
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| 2006.05.27 |
Snape was not a death eater at the time the potters were killed so he could...
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| vinovation |
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| 2006.04.26 |
I agree with you. Your theory is more logical than most. Infact, I believe ...
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| incendio |
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| 2006.02.17 |
You say, "We all know that when one wizard saves another wizard's life, the...
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| mer (argentina) |
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| 2006.02.15 |
I don't see the reason to blame James. Everybody has an enemy..but perhaps ...
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| Fardo |
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| 2006.02.07 |
I do not say it was James's fault. It is an editorial about why Snape hates...
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| lily |
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| 2006.02.04 |
I am so upset that you think that it was james fault. I think that if they ...
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| JLN |
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| 2006.01.18 |
I agree with most of what you said, but I think there is another part of th...
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| DW |
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| 2006.01.02 |
Nice... I must say this is a well thought out and written editorial. My o...
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| Mrs. Draco Malfoy |
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| 2005.12.24 |
I think it's so easy to hate Snape that we want to, just because it comes s...
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| Rory Taylor |
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| 2005.11.08 |
This has been the best editorial that I have read regarding the relationshi...
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| meep |
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| 2005.11.05 |
yeah i agree with u. snape duz NOT love lily for sure - he insulted her and...
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| Hermione-ish_gurl |
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| 2005.10.18 |
Nice one! I believe u.
Absoulutely wonderful!!! But I know Snape is evil. ...
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| *witch_marie* |
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| 2005.10.04 |
Excellent theory!! Really thought provoking. This really cleared my mind on...
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| Terrie Woodard |
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| 2005.08.29 |
Your article is very interesting and I agree with many points. I do believ...
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| For Karli aka hp_bumm |
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| 2005.07.30 |
The prophecy was made before Harry was born. So, that was before Voldemort ...
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| Comment from Fardo |
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| 2005.07.30 |
Dear readers,
I really appreciate all your comments, whether you agree w...
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| karla |
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| 2005.07.29 |
i agree with this opinions because of diferent reasons.although i haveread ...
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| Elle6 |
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| 2005.07.25 |
It seems as though all of this makes sense. And I must say that you have me...
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| C. L. Mason |
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| 2005.07.25 |
I completely agree with this editorial because of so many different points,...
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| karli a.k.a hp_bumm |
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| 2005.07.24 |
i really like this article, it was extremely well thought out and consisten...
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| kat |
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| 2005.07.20 |
i loved the way you made your point backed it up with evidence and decided ...
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| cat |
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| 2005.07.19 |
Snape could not have switched to the good side because he felt guilty about...
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| violetscarol |
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| 2005.07.14 |
That gives one a lot to think about. . . great analogy--- I really wonder a...
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| Jeff |
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| 2005.07.14 |
Excellent commentary but it almost seems to simplistic, if a life debt can ...
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| Roxxy |
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| 2005.07.14 |
Very good! It has good evidence to support the argument. I agree with your ...
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| Roxxy |
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| 2005.07.13 |
Very good! And a valid arguement. I agree and dont find snape evil. --but t...
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| Twins Girl |
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| 2005.07.12 |
Very good! This is a well writen and well researched essay for that I give ...
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| Racing Green |
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| 2005.07.08 |
Very good. I like this and I don't Snape is evil. I think he does it his ...
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| Semprisi |
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| 2005.07.07 |
Great job. The only thing was, I don't think it was that Snape was too lat...
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| +A.H.+ |
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| 2005.07.05 |
I strongly disagree with you on the part where you said, "I do not believe ...
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| Leah |
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| 2005.07.05 |
Brilliant argument but I don't think the wizards debt goes to this extreme,...
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| Hera |
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| 2005.07.05 |
Intriguing. I have wondered for a while why Snape renounced the Death Eater...
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| Casidhe Wether |
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| 2005.07.04 |
This is a very good thought. I've been thinking a lot of the same things. T...
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| Fairy |
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| 2005.07.04 |
Extremely logical and well put. I particularly appreciated that you put dow...
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| PixiePie |
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| 2005.07.04 |
Brilliant use of logic! It was, Obviously, very well thoughtout and was ver...
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| Gwen |
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| 2005.06.29 |
Wow! This is a really really excellent theory. I think it is a very plausi...
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| cerinamroth |
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| 2005.06.29 |
Great editorial. Snape's always been one of my favorite characters (from a ...
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| Fantasy Lvr |
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| 2005.06.21 |
Your editorial is great: very clear, convincing, and well thought out. Thi...
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| Drippy |
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| 2005.06.08 |
That was definitely an interresting point and I agree 100% with you. I thin...
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| Adrienne |
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| 2005.06.05 |
WOW. I never thaought of Snape in that way before. This is a brilliant t...
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| Dewey |
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| 2005.06.03 |
Very interesting. Even though you took sides saying Snape is NOT a Death Ea...
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| Comment from Fardo |
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| 2005.05.19 |
I didn't mean to say that Snape hates Harry because Harry hates Snape. That...
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| killmyidols |
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| 2005.05.07 |
Fully behind your theory, Snape feels guiilty that Harrys parents died but ...
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| pookieblue |
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| 2005.04.19 |
Well, since you two are fellow Potterheads, I might be a little biased too,...
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| Marmotte I |
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| 2005.04.19 |
Great editorial..I love your theory and I too have to admit that I haven't ...
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| lupinsmyman |
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| 2005.04.14 |
I thouroly enjoyed your editorial. Its great how you veiwed all the diferen...
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| Lunajen |
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| 2005.02.02 |
Well, well. This is one of the best editorials on Snape yet. Jenn and I ar...
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| Notabene |
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| 2005.01.28 |
I like this theory. I have never been a particular fan of the 'Snape loved ...
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| Tom |
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| 2005.01.23 |
This is the best theory on Snape's hatred of Harry that I've heard. I never...
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| Kelsey |
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| 2005.01.22 |
Very well written!!! I absolutly loved how you wrote this and I totally agr...
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| Erik |
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| 2005.01.22 |
Well written and concieved. The thing yet remains that we are still waiting...
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| Jenn |
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| 2005.01.22 |
Brilliant!!! Of course, I'm biased because Fardo and The Dungeon Queen are...
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| Hilary |
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| 2005.01.22 |
This article has been very well written and is very convincing as well. I'v...
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| Adam Ryan |
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| 2005.01.22 |
"Ever since I found out Snape was teaching here, I've wondered why Dumbledo...
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| AMPere |
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| 2005.01.21 |
Amazing... That is one of the best descriptions of Snape's attitude that I...
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| Long Live the Weasel King! |
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| 2005.01.21 |
Well, I for one agree with everything you said. Everything except, "Snape ...
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| Tal |
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| 2005.01.21 |
Great theory! Well written and thought provoking, I haven't thought about t...
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