HP: Snape and Lily

[thalia_seawood]

Snape and Lily - cut for spoilers to HBP


I have to admit that in the past I used to ignore all the theories that Snape might have been in love with Lily; there simply wasn't a lot of evidence for this in my opinion. After reading the HBP, things look different though. While I'm not sure that Snape was in love with Lily, I'm convinced they had a connection back at Hogwarts. Not sure it was friendship, but I think Severus admired Lily and even cared for her.

Fact 1:
In HBP we get told many times that Lily was very talented in Potions.
Considering that information that is mentioned several times tends to become important, I believe that Lily's Potions skills will be good for a revelation yet.

Considering this fact there are several possibilities:
- Lily is a natural in Potions and she and Severus are rivals because of this. (Could be, but it would be one-sided rivalry on Snape's side, IMO.)

- Lily is a natural in Potions and she and Severus become friends because of this. (Could be. In this case, some the tipps in the HBP's book could have been invented by them both.)

- Lily isn't a natural in Potions at all, but Severus coaches her and she uses many of the tricks documented in the Potions book of the Halfblood Prince. (This would be quite ironic considering Harry originally suspects that his father, Sirius or Remus are connected to the book. In reality though, it's connected to the Halfblood Prince and his mother.)


Fact 2:
In HBP we learn that Snape overhears the prophecy and reports it back to Voldemort. The result of this is that Harry's parents die. Harry is upset about this, but Dumbledore says:

"You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realised how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I belive it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned_"

This makes a lot of sense when we go with the theory that Snape admired and respected Lily and they maybe even were friends at one time. When Lily married James any friendship between them would have been broken since Snape hates James. Nevertheless, he would still be deeply affected by Lily's death.

Snape caring for Lily but hating James also might explain his behaviour towards Harry:
He sees in him mostly James and so can't stand him. On the other hand, he's Lily's son and so wants to protect him. Since he in part caused her death, he would also feel obligated to protect Harry.
Looking at Harry would remind him of James, Lily and his part in their death - so he would always feel uncomfortable around him.

Fact3:
Harry entering Snape's memories in book 5 and seeing how his father bullied Severus

We also get to see that Lily interfers and demands several times that James leave Severus alone. She's eiter very fair-minded or friends with Severus at this point or both.

Severus calls her "mudblood" in the course of the scene. Well, being humiliated in front of someone you admire could bring this out. Maybe he wants to defend her, instead he has to rely on her help.

If they are friends at this time, I think their friendship might end with this scene. Severus couldn't bear to be humiliated in front of Lily and she would be angry about the way he insults her. There's also this moment where she nearly laughs about what James is doing and this is something Severus wouldn't forgive.

Comments

[juonetar.livejournal.com]

I agree with your speculations. Previously I was reluctant to consider Snape/Lily relationship at all, but now it makes more sense. I like your idea that Lily used the HBP Potions book tricks.

On the other hand, I have always thought that the someone Bertha Jorkins saw "kissing Florence behind the greenhouses" was Snape. (The Goblet of Fire, chapter 30) The snippet about Florence reads like a hint about something, but I can't figure it out.