#rereading harry potter

[theflikchic]

I was chatting with my mom about doing my super-close reading of HP for my big retrospective and we got on the topic of Snape. And I described how I noticed that Snape, of ALL characters, represented just about everything JK R*wling now despises as a character who defies labels even in the first book where you know NOTHING about him except that he's an asshole. And I was like "He feels like an accident." And my mom goes-

"He created himself,"

So I sat with that bombshell for a moment and then I mentioned he was based on a real person with autism and insomnia, so all of the "nastiness" R*wling put in (always being up at night to catch the kids, lack of hygiene, harsh sarcasm) was actually accidentally reflective of that. And my mom (also autistic and a teacher) flipped out with surprise and said-

"He's a person?! So she created a person. Who created himself."

And if that's not the most accurate description of that character, I dunno what is. Hot damn, I want it on a t-shirt.

[ashleytrashly]

I’m rereading Harry Potter.

I’ve tried to do a series reread so many times. I get through the first 3 no problem. But I never finish Goblet Of Fire. I never seem to be able to get past the Yule ball.

I’ve been going back and forth between listening to it and reading it, and that has helped. I have officially made it to the second task. I may actually finish it! And continue on my reread!

I’ve only read Order Of The Phoenix, Half Blood Prince , and Deathly Hallows once each, when they came out. So I’m really excited to get to those 3. I’m hoping I’ll like Order more than I remember liking it the first time. I remember being bored a lot of it. I remember LOVING Half Blood Prince and I’m already prepping for the tears heading my way lmao

[theprisonerandthebeast]

While Harry was celebrating Nearly-Headless Nick's Deathday (October 31st) in COS, he was also celebrating his parents Deathday, unbeknownst to him. Annnnnnnd now i'm sad.

[themeitrix]

HAAHAHAHAH I LOVE THISSS TAKE THAT, UMBRIDGE YOU BITCH

[mischief-managed-map]

I never realised that in the first chapter of the sorcerers stone, Sirius has just discovered Lily and James dead and given Harry to Hagrid. By the time Hagrid gets to Privet Drive, Sirius has probably just had the fight with Peter and sent to Azkaban!

[theflikchic]

In the middle of my big, deep HP rereading, I'm finding myself more and more thinking about how he was nearly killed at 16 and nothing was done about it. Because holy baloney, do the books handle it TERRIBLY.

The fact that the narrative ITSELF of POA AND GOF completely ignores the "prank" and supports the characters' opinions of it just being a "prank" is something new I discovered while rereading them. The narrator themselves, Harry, Dumbledore, and even HERMIONE (the smart one!) hear the story and not only do their perceptions of Sirius and Lupin remain the exact same, but they hate Snape even more after hearing it and the narrative supports this?

Seriously, the story of the prank has little no bearing on them whatsoever aside from making them hate the person who was objectively the victim and as a writer, it's both looks like a huge writing oversight. Plus, given the story's nature, it's pretty gross.

And we never even see what really happened at the end during the memories. I have my own theories as to why (which work in-universe) but one theory is how it's like JKR forgot it ever happened.

But you know who DIDN'T forget? Snape. And he never lets the narrative forget it. Ever.

Character Analysis - Severus Snape

No because I feel like people don't truly understand Severus Snape's character when they say that he's nothing but an asshole and Death Eater who bullies children and did horrible things.

Did he do horrible things? Yeah. And did he bully children? Yeah. Was he an asshole? Yeah. Did his death and guilt relieve him of blame and responsibility? No.

But he was more than just an asshole. He had his reasons, no matter how shitty they may be. And even though his reasons are shitty, I think he at least deserves some consideration. Why? He made most of his shitty decisions as a child. An abused, discriminated against child. Think of it like this:

Meets Lily after ten years of abuse at the hands of his muggle father

At 11, is separated from Lily and is put into a notoriously discriminated-against house

Is (unfairly) antagonized by James Potter and the Marauders (while I do admit that yes, he probably gave back as good as he got, he couldn't have done that until at least his 2nd year because he was raised without magic. he also did nothing to cause the bullying in the first place [as far as I know, correct me if wrong] )

Was bullied and abused up until 5th (?) year

Is humiliated and sexually harassed (because yes, threatening to take off a peer's pants is sexual harassment in my opinion) and lashes out at Lily during this time of intense humiliation and is promptly abandoned by her

Is almost murdered by Sirius Black who receives no consequences

Goes on to join the Death Eaters at after years of being an abused outcast and stereotyped as nothing but a slimy Death Eater

Is then forced to become the potions professor at Hogwarts

1-2 years later, he turns traitor against Voldemort (around 18-19)

The only person he's ever had care for him in his entire life dies

He's only 19-20 when Voldemort is vanquished. I'd say that it's safe to assume that he never got help/support/closure surrounding anything he went through. As far as I'm aware, there's not a single person within the entire series who is shown to support Snape, which leads me to believe that no one ever told him to get help after the first war, and considering his life up until then, he most likely didn't know to get help. He spent the rest of his life doing a job he hated and was forced into, was a spy, and was split between two powerful and dangerous masters.

With all this in mind, I'm unashamedly a Snape supporter (not an apologist, there's a difference). He was an ass who did horrible things but there's more to him then that. The students he taught didn't deserve his ire, and he did and watched horrible things be done, but he's so much more than a Death Eater, and his background and potential to be more than a spy is so interesting to look at and think about.

Edit: A reblogger has mentioned that in the books, James say's he'll remove Snape's pants. In England, 'pants' refers to underwear, and that we never actually find out if James did that. This definitely sexual harassment.

[faiell]

seventeen years old

[iamnmbr3]

Is Snape nice? No. Is he an absolute comedy icon with a flair for dramatic timing? Yes! I mean he literally stood there waiting and being insulted multiple times just to reveal himself at the perfect moment. We stan.

[moonlightdancer26]

I feel like no one ever talks about the fact that Snape canonically has a cute nickname, like he is literally called “Sev” by his best friend. We don’t even need to come up with our own nicknames for him in fanfics because it’s already canon. He got called Sev for at least 6-7 years of his life by his best friend, how cute is that??

[theflikchic]

People: Book!Snape would NEVER have protected the kids from werewolf Lupin!

Book!Snape:

Goblet of Fire ch. 25:

OOtP ch. 26:

Adding to the parallels between Harry and Snape: the hero complex thing. Snape's gotta make sure everyone is OK the second he thinks something might be wrong. Literally left Harry alone in his unlocked office because he heard someone scream. Didn't hesitate. Did he trust Harry? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Me reading the above excerpts:

‘Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?’ ‘Lately, only those whom I could not save,’ said Snape.

[blorger]

yes, hello, please let the record show that when Harry and Draco meet at Madame Malkin's and Harry is reminded strongly of Dudley Draco hasn't done anything that is particularly vile, he's just

been blond (technically "pale", we can't yet make the Dudley to Draco connection via hair color)

talked about having two involved parents

I direct the jury to this exchange:

Draco is just behaving like a kid, even if he uses the world "bully" ( he's clearly using it hyperbolically) and drawls (the Malfoy Special, if you will). This is not exactly villain foreshadowing 101.

Something could be said for how Draco's words suggest a power dynamic wherein he's in control of his parents, like Harry views Dudley and the Dursleys's relationship, but also... Draco is a child making boastful remarks to another child, one would expect exaggeration as par for the course.

I fail to see any signs of Great Evil; Draco's phrasing may have triggered feelings of inadequacy and maybe also envy, (Harry wants a family most of all as per the mirror of erised) but also, Harry has presumably been going to school and has met plenty of parented children, this can't be a new situation.

What I'm saying is that jkr is doing a bit of a tell don't show, she is giving us the key with which we are to interpret every one of Draco and Harry's interactions from this moment on but kind of falls flat in the execution.

What I (and others beside me) read in their following interaction is just two people not understanding eachother. One boy feels confused, insecure and out of his depth and the other one doesn't know this is happening. Draco is trying to make a good impression on a schoolmate by saying any and all impressive things he can think of, not knowing that by repeating his father's greatest hits he's inadvertently alienating Harry.

In conclusion, your honor, I posit to you that upon their meeting Harry immediately feels strongly about Draco but, in his inexperience (and lack of emotional development see: cupboard), he is unable to identify the origin of said strong feelings and attributes them to dislike (the Dudley Connection). Thus a scene meant to highlight their incompatibility ends up foreshadowing Harry and Draco's unusual bond instead.

tldr: drarry is a great ship, jkr is an idiot savant who managed to write the greatest enemies to lovers storyline of all time without meaning to and also I know I'm reaching but I've decided this is the bible truth since truth is what you make of it.

[theflikchic]

the neurodivergency demands it

[hufflepuffz]

harry: snape has long greasy hair and a big nose and dresses like a great big bat and sneaks around like a spider and is super super ugly ugh hes so awful i hate him so much

the man in question:

[ecstarry]

"It was a Thursday" a love confession far from perfect // 529 words

It was not supposed to happen like this. They both had waited so long, it was going to be special. Possibly on the weekend trip they had carefully planned and made up excuses to justify sharing a bed. Or maybe it was going to happen after breakfast, on their walk back to the hotel. 

They were waiting. Regulus was certain they both figured it out at the same time — no doubt late compared to the rest of their friends. But it was a Tuesday, and the weather was horrible and his hair just didn’t look right. That was no way to confess his love to one James Potter. 

But today, a Thursday, with an okay weather, exams around the corner, when both of them were upset was definitely worse. 

Regulus couldn’t even remember what they were even fighting about, let alone how it turned into both of them screaming and blowing up on each other. There was nothing left to be said.

It was James who broke the silence. “I’m done, Reg,” 

He was going to be sick. “What does that even mean?” Regulus’ voice broke. 

“I won’t fight anymore,” James responded. 

Regulus turned his face, the thought of watching James leave was unbearable. “So you’ll just go?” He could barely get the words out. 

“Look at me.” James took a step closer. 

“No.” Regulus' eyes shut his eyes as he felt James’ hands squeeze his arms. Why did he have to be this gentle even when he was breaking Regulus’ heart?

James released his grip and softly brushed the side of Regulus’ arm with his thumb. “Please, look at me.”

Regulus obliged. James’ eyes were just as teary-eyed as his own. Was it just as tormentful for James to watch him?

“Why are you crying if I’m the one who has to watch you leave?” There was no venom in Regulus’ tone, and sadness seemed too insignificant of a word at the moment. Ache. That was closer. 

James’ hands traveled to his face, and god, were they were warm. One last kiss of the sun on his skin before winter came. He would miss it. They were so close to having it all, then Regulus snapped, said something wrong, and he didn’t even remember it. He couldn’t stop as his sharp words attacked until it was too late, he had crossed a line. James would-

“I love you.”

What?

“I love you.” James repeated, loudly. “I’m not leaving.” 

“Yo- you said you were done.”

“Fighting. I was done fighting, Reg.” James chuckled as he moved his feet close enough that the point of their shoes were touching. “I could never be done with you.” 

Regulus felt as if he was drowning and had finally caught some air. They were okay. James wasn’t leaving. James loved him. James loved him?

“You love me?”

“Actually, I’m in love with you.” James whispered as he lifted Regulus’ face slightly. “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten that upset, you were already stressed and I knew it but I just couldn’t keep my mouth shu-”

“I love you too.”

“You do?”

“In love, actually.” Regulus said, allowing a small smile to form.

There was no perfect breakfast, no perfect weather, no perfect sunrise. It was a Thursday, with an okay weather, exams around the corner, both of them upset, and yet, they loved each other. Any day together would be lovely as long as that one truth remained. 

[daiziesssart]

i reread shelf awareness by @ghostofbambifanfiction (GhostofBambi on ao3) for the millionth time and it made me want to draw jily being disgustingly in love (again). i am only human

[stydixa]

EMMA WATSON AS HERMIONE GRANGER HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002) Dir. Chris Columbus