Weekly Discussion: Favoritism
Quote from Naaga on June 27, 2023, 12:12 amToday's discussion: If he wanted to, could Snape have defeated the professors who drove him out of Hogwarts?
No, I don't think so. I mean, Severus wouldn't have been able to defeat Minerva, Flitwick, Sprout and Slughorn all at once.
One on one, he could have defeated each of them quite easily; he could have even taken a pair of them.
I mean, he meant to deliver the truth to Harry before that duel. He could have subdued her without harming her. The complications started when the other three heads showed up on the scene.
Perhaps, Severus could've defeated all four of them if he unleashed his full prowess with Dark Arts, but he definitely wasn't going to walk away unscathed from a 4 vs. 1 duel. That's why he went away to find another opportunity to tell Harry the truth; he definitely couldn't have done it while dueling multiple people.
Quote from Naaga on June 27, 2023, 12:12 amToday's discussion: If he wanted to, could Snape have defeated the professors who drove him out of Hogwarts?
I do agree with @sanctuaryangel and @giosnape while @kris also does have a point, a duel against four is rather challenging... But it is also a situation that Sev does know rather well from his school days.
I would like to add this, even though it sways away from your question and many may call me crazy now:
Personally I do think that Severus would have even stood a chance against Dumbledore and Voldemort in a one on one duel.
In my opinion Dumbledore had already sensed the power and skill of Sev during his school days. With the raise of Voldemort and the memory of his schooldays rather fresh on his mind that may have been the cause as to why Dumbledore and the other teachers weren't as protective of Sev as they should have been. They maybe were worried that if he was liked and respected he might be the next dark lord that is even more powerful than Grindelwald and Voldemort.
11. Today's discussion: If Snape was a student in Harry's year, which student would he be friends with?
Quote from Naaga on June 28, 2023, 1:12 amToday's discussion: If Snape was a student in Harry's year, which student would he be friends with?
My first answer would be: none.
Maybe sometimes he talked with Hermione about his studies, but nothing more.
With Lily he had a special relationship because they had met when they were 10/11 years old, but apart from her, during his study years, he had no such deep friendship with anyone.
Quote from Naaga on June 28, 2023, 1:12 amToday's discussion: If Snape was a student in Harry's year, which student would he be friends with?
I might be a biased source, but I think it's going to be Hermione.
Hermione is the type of person who could befriend Severus. She is a loyal, kind, compassionate, intelligent, and reliable individual who doesn't hesitate to stand by her convictions.
If Severus were to meet Hermione, although they wouldn't have a good start, I believe they could eventually become good friends. Their interactions would consist of academic competition, bickering over potions, Hermione's book approach versus Severus's unorthodox approach, spending most of their time in the library and engaging in nerdy conversations. She would also never abandon him to the wolves and fight for him in cases of injustice. I really enjoy Hermione time travel fics where she joins Severus during his Hogwarts years and gives the Marauders a piece of her mind.
I, again, agree with @kris. I see Hermione as the friend that Lily should have been to Severus. She is smart, loyal, cares for her friends and even forgives them when they break her heart (remember how often Hermione cried because of Ron in canon from year one until the horcrux hunt). But their friendship wouldn't come easily, that's for sure. Both have very different kinds of intelligence and Snape would see Hermione as boring because she strictly follows books instead of thinking outside the box. I see him mostly as a loner and if Hermione hadn't befriended Ron and Harry after the troll incident, she wouldn't be better off. I see her approach him or just sit down near him in the library very often, trying to break the ice but failing until he kind of gives in and tolerates her presence.
I kind of see him befriend Luna as well, more out of pity and a feeling of protectiveness though.
I'm going with Draco Malfoy.
We know the canon Trio Era didn't encourage inter-house friendships which only started with DA in OOTP. And Snape is certainly going to be in Slytherin, so he certainly wouldn't have any friends from other house.
We know that Snape was friends with Lucius in Marauders era so his son Draco would be alright with becoming friends with him.
Hard question. I do agree with both Hermione and Draco as options, Luna also came to mind for me.
But who also came to my mind are Fred and George, I think at the beginning they would just see a great asset for their pranks in him, especially with his potion skills and how he creates cursed/spells.
I think they also would try to get him to join them in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
12. Today's discussion: What is one thing you would change about Snape's storyline?
His death. I rant about it everywhere and with everyone.
Rowling missed out on a perfect full circle moment. We have this dude who introduces himself with this grand speech about how he can put a stopper to death and questions his students on a potion than can induce such a strong sleep, it's like faking your own death. Fast forward, to final book. The same bragging potions master dies from a snake bite which another Order member survived two books ago. There is an antidote, yet our brilliant potions prodigy did not carry it with himself despite having the said snake slithering around him for years now.
Pathetic.
I don't mind characters dying and sometimes it adds a lot to the story, Hedwig's death is, for example, perfect and I love what it symbolizes but Snape's death was executed in the shittiest way possible. I'm never getting over it. Never. Ever.
