This thought only came to me now, but what about that memory Snape had that Harry saw during one of his Occulmency lessons, where Harry saw hook-nosed man who was shouting at "a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner"...

Could it be that the hook-nosed man was his moms employer? (and perhaps also his illegitimate father? he could have started mistreating her only after Snape was born, because he didn't want her to have the child in the first place... and Snape's mum might also have been resentful towards him because of the possible end to the relationship... his name could really be "sever us"...)

Maybe Snape's mom worked as a servant to a rich family, and she and Snape were both abused by them... but they continued working for them because they needed the money, and possibly because his mum still loved the man.

Snape could have learned dark spells in order to protect himself and his mum from whoever she worked for...

Then Snape went to Hogwarts and was picked on because of his knowledge of the dark arts, the fact that he was poor and greasy looking, and the fact that his mother is/used to be a servant (possibly of someone he went to school with... and I hate to say it, but I kind of suspect that his mother might have worked for the Blacks).

That would explain why Sirius and Snape hate each other so much.. and possibly why James and Sirius picked on him so much.

Honestly I don't know about all that. It seems a bit much. But that's a really good theory that I'd never given any thought to at all. I just kinda forgot about Snape's memories. I'll definitely think on that a bit.

Also, according to the "verified information" about book six on the main veritaserum site, in the next book/books "We'll find out more about the relationship between Snape and Sirius in their Hogwarts days." (the source for this is the March 2004 World Book Day Chat... which I haven't gotten a chance to read this yet, but I'm about to do so now).

Wonder if this is going to be one of the things we learn?

it's a good theory, and it fits too, but it's like sorta thinking too much into the subject, because too many things need to happen in order for that the reason being why snape is made fun of. but still, i like that theory

I think I made it sound a bit longer than it really is, but it makes sense nonetheless. The real hatred between the marauders and snape seems to lie between Snape/Sirius, not Snape/James.

But anywho, the real reason Sirius would be able to make fun of Snape is because he couldn't really do anything about it if his mum worked for the family, and it would make sense for Sirius and the Marauders to feel above him for this reason too (especially if they visited Sirius's house at times and ordered him to do things)... and Snape was no doubt an outcast because of his knowledge of the dark arts.

The servant issue wouldn't necessarily affect anyone else at Hogwarts, but no one would want to be friends with Snape if the marauders were picking on him like that all the time...

Honestly though, if Snape had been in Gryffindor, I think that the knowledge of the dark arts would have been impressive, albeit weird to the students.... I mean, wouldn't he be a valuable asset to them? But since Snape went to Slytherin, he was assumed to be evil because of it... and thus regarded as such. We've never found out why he learned so much about the Dark Arts in the first place.

I'd also like to note that Snape wants to teach the "defence against the dark arts" course, not the "this is how to do the dark arts" course lol.

Hmmm... wow, two new thoughts on why he hasn't been given the DADA position... oh well, maybe I'll post them later, this is getting rather long.

I think that's one of the most bang on theories about Snape I've heard in a while! Particularly the 'sever-us' bit...excellent idea. I have to say, this one has been kind of playing around in my head for a while too, but with a slightly different twist - I think it's quite possible that Sirius and Snape might be half-brothers. Before everyone starts crying, 'Oh...that's it....Dana's finally gone round the bend once and for all.... '....let me just cite some of my reasons for thinking that.

Firstly, there's the memory that severely_severus referred to - if we are to believe that the man and woman were his parents (it doesn't have to be, but it's pretty likely) then it's clear they didn't get along. (I also think it's possible that Snape is an unregistered animagus and that he can become a bat, which is how he managed to hit the flies on the ceiling in a darkened room...)

We know that there's a 95% chance that Snape is a pure blood 1) because he was put in Slytherin and 2) he wouldn't have been allowed into the DE's otherwise (or at least would be much less likely to have been). Therefore, both his parents would be pure blood too. There aren't many pure-blood families around anymore - the Weasleys, the Blacks and the Malfoys have all been talked about to death, so where are the Snape's? Maybe Sirius' father had an affair with Snape's mother (oh come on people, I can hear the groans of exasperation from here!! But think about it...would you stay loyal to a woman like Mrs Black???) and our Severus was the result....

It would explain a lot - the severe animosity between Snape and Sirius in particular, the jealousy between Snape and the Marauders.... And they both have dark hair, bad tempers...although Sirius was much better looking than Snape....

Not that I think for a moment that JKR would introduce concepts like affairs into the books, but she might gloss over it....

And I think it's entirely possible that Snape would have learned DADA to protect his mother...maybe from a jealous Mrs Black? Or Mr Black's two other legitimate sons, Regulus and Sirius?

Mmm....probably not....but I had to admit, I kind of like the whole idea....would explain a lot about Snape's bitterness and stuff.....

BTW, who's the girl who was laughing at him trying to mount a broomstick I wonder? **waggles eyebrows** Lily, perhaps? Mmmm.....

Thank you

I used to think that maybe it was Snape's sister - not laughing at him, but with him, in an affectionate kind of way, you know? That's actually what gave me the idea of the fanfic I wrote - I tried to show a softer, more vulnerable version of Snape based on that.....But if the Sirius' father affair thing is to be considered plausible, then I don't suppose a sister would really fit into that....and it's a pity, 'cos I also had this whole theory worked out about that...how LV could have killed Snape's sister and mother and that's why Snape went back to DD.....

Ah well.....I think I prefer the idea of Snape being Sirius' half brother anyway....

I think it's possible that Snape went back to DD when he found out about the posisbility of James and Lily's son being killed. I have two reasons for thinking this...

1) I don't think that Snape would want Lily's son to be killed, but that's because I believe he was in love with her... so those of you who don't believe that theory, you'll find the next reason more concrete.

2) Snape had the bond with James for saving his life, Snape couldn't just let LV kill him.

Well, the only problem I have with that theory really is that if Snape was in love with Lily, then why would he treat her son so badly? You'd think that, now Harry has no one else, he might have made more of an effort with him, but it's obvious Snape hated Harry right from the get-go.

Does he see Harry as the son he would have had, maybe?

Otherwise, yeah, I agree with you...both those are possibilities....

I think you actually said one of the main things that makes me think that Snape did indeed love Lily...

Harry is the son that Snape could have had... but didn't.

Every time Snape looks at Harry, he see's his old enemy James... but he also see's Lily when he looks into Harry's eyes. In other words, every time he looks at Harry, he is reminded of the union of the two. And of all the things he could never have... That would have to be extremely painful for him...

I also don't think that Snape hates Harry exactly, I think that he chooses to be mean to him for a couple reasons...

1) He would like to see James suffer, and Harry is the closest thing he can get.

2) He doesn't want Harry to become too big-headed, he doesn't want to have fifty year James all over again...

3) Being mean to Harry is so much easier than being affectionate, when being affectionate with him would involve them actually sitting down and talking to him... Snape would have to have real conversations with Harry, which means that he'd have to spend more time with him... which means there would be even more time where Snape would have to be reminded of Lily and James's union. And then Harry might know about Snape's love for his mother, and that would be I think too much for Snape to bear...

Yeah, I agree with you. Particularly on the last point. You always hurt the ones you love...not that I'm saying Snape loves Harry, of course! But sometimes being mean to someone is easier than being nice to them, particularly if you have feelings for that person that you never want them to know about. That can apply equally to relationships between friends, parents and children, boyfriends/girlfriends etc....I know that when I used to fancy a guy, for no real logical reason, I'd find myself being nasty to him, just because the more horrible I was to him, the less likely it would be that he would find out how I would really be feeling, you know? Counter-productive maybe, but there we go.... Not that I'm saying Snape likes Harry in that kind of a way, of course! Eww....gross....sick....and illegal..... But...well....I'm sure you guys know what I mean, right?

If Snape ever did show any kind of affection towards Harry, undoubtedly Draco would tell his father and, depending on Snape's true loyalties and where they lie, that might not be a particularly good thing for Harry..... Maybe Snape might be trying to protect Harry, in a way, and therefore Lily's memory...by behaving towards Harry the way he does, no one else could possibly be under the illusion that Snape could give a toss if anything happened to Harry and so no one would ever hurt Harry to get at Snape, do you know what I mean?

So, maybe he's best placed to protect Harry in school, but he's also protecting himself in a way by hiding what he really feels....

Yeah, there is that...but there's also the risk that LV would be able to see what DD is doing with the Order if he got inside Harry's head and Harry happened to be listening to what was going on in a meeting, or was in Grimmauld Place at the time...It's not a good thing all round for LV to be in Harry's head....that's why it was so important for him to learn occlumancy. It still is important....I wonder if DD will take the risk of teaching Harry himself now, or whether he'll still make Snape do it?

I hope he'll make Snape continue with it...we might get to see more of his memories then...help us to try and work out where the dude's coming from, you know?

Yeah, everything is seeming quite murky isn't it. I wish the next two books would come out already lol, so confusing!

But I'm more and more thinking that Snape doesn't want to show affection to Harry, in order to prevent himself from knowing that he cares about him... so that perhaps, if something in the end *does* happen to Harry... Snape will be able to shrug it off more easily than if he had let himself become close to the boy.

Not only that though... I think he doesn't want LV to use Harry as a tool to make him do things, and that he wants Harry to follow the rules more than everyone else in order to help prevent him from becoming like his father was in that fifth year, and also to prepare him. And finally because it just hurts less not to let himself care...

that's my take on the whole thing at the moment anyway..

Hmm.. That is a good theory. I would have never thought of that. I think it makes some sense. I wondered who that lady was. I would have thought his mother though but who knows.

I think the man shouting at the woman where snape's parents. Right? wouldnt that make snape go it bit crazy like he is now?

Yeah, I think they were too...although I still think it's possible that Snape's dad and Sirius' dad might have been one and the same, ya know...

I'd like to know who the girl was who laughed at him falling off his broomstick though.....Lily, perhaps?

I don't remember that part about the girl laughing. I guess I'm going to have to go back through that part of the book but perhaps it was Lily. The first time I read the part with the man yelling at the women I thought it was Snapes parents. Thats the first thing that come to me. Who else would it be?

I just read all the comments posted on here, and I like most of them. I especially like the idea of Sirius and Snape being half brothers. It would explain a lot. But I think that's too easy. Maybe they just have one of those hates like Draco and Harry. We might just be blowing this way out of proportion and making it seem ten times harder then it really is. Who knows? I also agree with the idea of Snape thinking of Harry as what could have been. Severus Snape is an anagram for Perseus Evans. I just did a little research and this is what I came up with:

Yep I'd read something about Severus Snape being Perseus Evans... but wouldn't that mean that Snape and Lily are related? I'm not sure why but I have a hard time seeing that, but hehe, maybe its just the fact that that would mean his real name is as fanciful and wimpy sounding as "Perseus" lol. *grins* wheee. Unless of course he at a time married into Lily's family and took their last name LOL (yeah okay I'm only kidding but why not lmao).

I doubt anyone would fear our poor little potions master at all if he had a name like Perseus Evans hehe. But maybe that's just me

Anywho, I'm not sure who's watching him on the broom, you'd figure that if it were Lily then Harry would have recognized her but again I could be wrong

Oh this is all so confusing...

You know there’s a completely different way to interpret those memory flashes.

In my memories I don’t see myself, just what I’m looking at. I’ll tell you what I think is actually being seen by Harry. First off don’t forget that Prof. Snape doesn’t seem fazed in the least by Potter viewing any of them. Coming from that standpoint here’s a way of seeing without Snape being actually seen.

Boy crying in corner while man yells, woman cowering.
I think young Severus set that crying boy up to take the blame for a misdeed of his own. Karma is going to find him someday.

Black haired teen killing flies.
That might be member of the Black family. Remember how Sirius mother left neat precise holes in the tapestry? The spell in use seems very similar. Maybe Severus shared a room with whoever was there. It could be Regalus.(sp)

Scrawny boy with the bucking broom while girl laughs.
That’s probably James and Lily with unseen Severus jinxing the broom. In PS/SS he recognized the broom jinx being made by Quirrell and makes the counter.

For Sirius and Severus to hate each other so much means they must have been close at one time. There does seem to be a link somewhere.

EDIT
Before I fell asleep I wondered why interpreted that first memory like that. It was instinctual not intellectual. It’ makes more sense that Severus lost control (like Harry had) and accidentally hurt that crying child. Now his father is yelling about how to manage wizard son to his mother.

Boy crying in corner while man yells, woman cowering.

Could be a brother of which we don't have any information? A muggle brother? This idea seems appealing to me.
Anyway, remember that, i.e., Harry sees Slughorn talking with students in Slughorn's own memory. How do you explain it?

Witchmom )O(

I dont know about that theroy it seems a little far fetched...but I do think that there will be some signifacance of the whole memory.

To me it makes sense and does make it more significant this way.

Witchmom you are confusing the properties of a Pensieve with Legilimency. The above listed flashes from Prof. Snape’s mind are during a Occlumency lesson with Harry.

• Pensieve – an outside record of events and surrounding area of self

• Legilimency – emotionally charged memories within self

Severus didn’t care a wit Harry saw those events and continued with lessons.

I believe JKR is misleading by using Harry’s interpretation believing it to be a young Snape seen. Judging by responses and the many posts/fics here and elsewhere she’s succeeded in tricking many.
But not me. I know your game author

Actually Vortex you seem to be right - you let me think something I didn't focus enough on. Well, if the yelling man is Snape's father, who is then the little crying boy? what about the brother's theory? do you find it appealing?

Witchmom )O(

I think that some people are thinking about this too much. Snape could possibly have this big cmplex history, sure, but the people in the memory could have just been his parents. This would explain why Snape was so hermit-like and introverted as a kid, was because of all the yelling he heard when he was at home. The hook nosed man was probably his father. (thats where snape got that "abnormally large nose") and the cowering woman must have been his mother.

Or I could be the one who is wrong and I'm not thinking about it enough. Maybe there is some big answer as to whom those people were, but I think JKR left it up to fans to decide, its simply more fun that way. Isnt it?

Ahhhhh. Excellent theory.
When i first read that quote from the book. i thought of Snape yelling at Lily and James Potter. Unsure why? but when you said hooked nose. i thought of Snape. but then when you said that it may have been his mother and father i thought about it and everything you said after that made perfect sense.
Cuz there must be a reason why James and Sirius picked on him so much. i cant believee that Snape never blew there faces off or soemthing. Or will we find out something in the senventh book

okay. we don't really know that much about snapes past. we know that he was half blooded, and we get to look a little into his life in the order of the pheonix. we see "snapes worst memory" and get to look into his mind when harry studys occulemency (spelling?) with snape. is this a coincidence? i don't thinks so. JK wanted us to see why he became a death eater. firstly, in my opinion, i think snape had an abusive father when he was younger (if you look at the lesson where harry looks into snapes head). it would make him hate muggles. and then lilly falls for his rival, that would make him hate muggles MORE. and if you noticed, he hates hermione too(who is also a muggle born). hmmm... i just wanted to bring this up in a thread instead of a reply so people would look at it. =)

i also wonder how he ended up in slytherin..sure tom riddle was in slytherin and he was half blooded, but he's puree evil. is snape pure evil too???


peace outtt