#harry and snape dynamic

[maxdibert]

What do you think Snape and Harry's relationship would have been like if Snape had survived? Would Harry have thanked him personally for all the work he had done? Because at the age of 30, he was grateful enough to name his son after Snape. Would they have been able to get closer and would Snape have been some kind of a mentor to Harry? Sorry if you answered it before, I didn't find it ;)

I think Harry has a great sense of forgiveness when he understands people's motivations or when he sees that someone truly regrets their actions. I mean, just as he’s a guy who can develop strong affections or grudges very quickly and irrationally, holding onto them fiercely, he’s also someone who, when he sets his pride aside and humbles himself, can see beyond the surface and be incredibly empathetic and compassionate. He’s a Leo, after all—first, he puffs out his chest, then he actually thinks about it.

Clearly, Harry understood Snape’s reasons after seeing his memories, and he learned not only to appreciate everything he did but also to be grateful for it. And Harry is grateful—he’s not the kind of person who, if he truly feels indebted to someone, will just act all proud and dismissive. That’s not his personality. So I genuinely think he would want to express to Severus that he appreciates everything he did for him and that he’s sorry for misjudging him. Because Harry can be quite arrogant and overconfident at times, but he also has a great ability to recognize his mistakes and admit when he was wrong. And we’re talking about an 18-year-old Harry here—someone who’s been through a war, who has matured a lot—so this behavior seems perfectly in character for him, honestly.

The problem is that Severus is not like Harry. Severus is a dysfunctional, prideful, raging diva who recoils from vulnerability like a cat from water. So I can just imagine the poor boy standing in front of him, sincerely thanking him with the best of intentions, while Severus just stares at him with a face that says, What are you doing? Why are you talking? What are you talking about? Why are you talking to me?—and then promptly telling him to piss off.

You have to understand that Severus didn’t do what he did for Harry. He protected Harry because of Lily, and then, as things progressed, he came to realize that there was something bigger and more important than his guilt, his revenge, or his debt to Lily. He ultimately embraced something much greater: a sense of duty toward the greater good. Severus shifted from an entirely individualistic perspective to inheriting, even after death, Dumbledore’s vision of doing whatever it takes and sacrificing whatever is necessary to achieve the greater good. Otherwise, he never would have agreed to Dumbledore’s plan, which involved sacrificing Harry. He doesn’t accept it because he hates the kid, and he doesn’t question it because he cares about him—it has nothing to do with the boy. Nothing Severus has ever done has ever been about Harry. His hatred isn’t about Harry, it’s about James. His determination to save his skin isn’t about Harry, it’s about Lily. And the fact that he ultimately follows Dumbledore’s plan isn’t about Harry either—it’s about Severus finally understanding that the greater good must come before personal desires.

His relationship with Harry is incredibly triggering for him because it directly ties back to two traumatic events from his teenage years—being bullied by James and losing Lily, who was essential to his development. It’s too complicated for him, which is why he doesn’t see Harry as an individual but as the sum of multiple traumas.

I think Severus would be very reluctant to have any kind of relationship with him and would probably take an attitude of, Fine, fine, I accept your apologies, everything’s good, now leave me alone, wanting to push Harry as far away as possible. Because, in the end, he’s already fulfilled his lingering debt to Lily, and having to keep seeing Harry’s face isn’t something he’d be particularly fond of. And it’s not fair, because I truly believe Harry would want to have at least a decent relationship with him. Maybe not be best friends or have a mentor-student dynamic, but at least maintain something cordial. After all, Harry has always sought father figures, and every single one he’s had (Sirius, Dumbledore…) has ended up dead. But I don’t think Severus would be mentally or emotionally prepared to have a functional relationship with the kid.

He would probably settle for pretending to be civil—just enough so that Harry wouldn’t be a pain in his ass—but every time Harry tried to get closer, Severus would react in an evasive, almost childish way. Because Severus is a damn child when it comes to confronting his past issues. In fact, I even think it would piss him off that Harry would go around advocating for him, like, Oh great, now the damn kid is out here talking me up—why won’t he just leave me alone? Because Severus is a grump with the personality of a cranky old man.

I don’t see them having a particularly close relationship, but not because Harry wouldn’t try—just because Snape is an absolute bastard. I mean, I adore him for that, but he’s a massive bastard. And incredibly proud.

[ghostscarface]

Snirius is just Tobias and Eileen with extra steps

Severus spends his entire life swearing he'll never be his father. He builds his identity around, how much he hates that man.

And one day he looks up and realizes he's not Tobias.

He's Eileen.

He's in the kitchen with a bitter drunk who yells more than he listens.

Trying to raise a child and failing, born of obligation not love.

[danadiadea]

I don't think we are using snucius to it's full toxic potential. Lucius (17, wealthy, aristocrat, pureblood, prefect) "befriends" Snape (11, poor, working class, half-blood, outcast) – I've never heard one more predatory thing in my life. 6 years is not a big age difference for adults, but we know that Snape had some connection to Lucius at school. How? Sirius is aware of it, and Sirius had nothing to do with Snape after graduation – didn't know he's a Death Eater, nothing. But he's aware of Snape’s relationship with Lucius enough to call Snape his "lapdog" as an insult, and use that relationship to hurt Snape – considering it about the same level of hurtful as Snape's comment on Sirius hiding in his mother's house.

Sirius also is the one who mentions Bellatrix and Rodolphus as a part of Snape's "gang". Bellatrix is 9 years older, Rodolfus – at least 7. Now, Bella and Severus don't behave like they had ever been close – so is Sirius just listing older DEs who Snape could be seen with if he sticked to Lucius? How old Rosier and Wilkies were? Rosier held his own against Moody well enough, I don't think a teenager was likely to do that. Avery and Mulcibier, people we know Snape had something to do with during his 5th year, could be his classmates (I think it's likely), or could be a bit older. So how old were underage Snape's "friends"? The ones who already had social, economical, psychological upper hand in the relationship because Snape was a neglected, dirt poor, muggle raised, traumatised child?

Lucius pats Snape on his back when he sits at the Slytherin table. Just a welcoming Prefect greeting a new student, sure. But for some reason this particular kid, with a muggle surname and visibly unloved, uncared for look, found a place to sit near the Prefect (and quite popular I'd imagine) Lucius Malfoy himself. How very convenient. Narcissa calls them "old friends" – how old, exactly? Even if we take Snape's oldest school year – 18yo being "friends" with 27yo is plenty predatory, especially considering their gap in social standing. Especially considering the organisation Lucius was a part of and his closeness to the Dark Lord himself during the first war.

This shit is deeply disturbing. Snape was a child and a teenager groomed by adults. Adults with very low morals and great proficiency in manipulation. Adults who had all the instruments to pull his strings. Is it any wonder Severus fell for it?

[lilithofpenandbook]

The best Severus and Harry dynamic is when everything is exactly the same and they absolutely loathe each other

But also Severus is the one Harry goes to when he has a nightmare, the half-asleep Severus asking if he needs to 'kiss it better' (mocking, snarky) or 'actually kiss it better' (serious, protective) and he just needs to see how Harry reacts to know whether he needs to comfort Harry or if he's good to make fun of Harry until Harry's so annoyed he stops being upset. Severus is the one who kisses Harry's forehead when Harry absolutely wrecks himself playing Quidditch. Harry's the one who drags Severus to bed when Severus is trying to power through a headache. Harry's the one who cheers Severus up when he's upset by just being a sassy lil shit and cracking Severus up.

And it's even funnier when Remus Lupin is the only person who doesn't understand what the hell is this hot-and-cold dynamic? How the hell can Sev both hug Harry after a nightmare and yet also try strangle him when he says one thing wrong? And why is everyone so normal about this?! Why isn't anyone concerned?!

To everyone else, it's pretty obvious to everyone that Remus is an only child.

[fugamalefica]

Sometimes I wish Severitus and Drarry were canon.

[psdrawsthings]

request for a friend :P

i really believe lucius would not wear anything like that bc of internalized homophobia or something (so severus is his dress up sugarbaby doll)

[cerielstar]

The Evans Sisters

Severus took the photo.

I consider this trio to be totally Ethel Cain-coded. So the recommendation is to listen to Sun Bleached Flies.

[fannedandflawless]

I keep wondering, what if Sirius Black hadn’t found James Potter on that first train ride to Hogwarts?

Instead, the door he slid open revealed not a boy with messy hair and an ego to match, but a quiet, guarded Severus Snape?

Just two boys, neither loved quite right, thrown into the same compartment before the world told them they were meant to be enemies.

Sirius flopped down opposite the first lone figure he saw—black hair, hollow stare, arms crossed as if daring the world to speak first. He grinned. “Hi. You look like you hate everything. I think we’ll get along.” Severus looked up, unimpressed. “You talk too much.” Sirius tilted his head. “And you look like you haven’t smiled since birth.” Smirk met sneer in silence. It wasn’t friendship, yet, but something had clicked. The corner of Sirius’ mouth twitched. “Yeah. We’ll definitely get along.”

[didias-hp]

this meme but they

[potions-of-dark-devotion]

The fact that when Hermione setting Snape on fire (because she thought he was the one jinxing Harry) she was actually accidentally putting Harry’s life in danger by thwarting Snape’s counter-curse against Quirrell is THE most Golden Trio thing Ever.

[maxdibert]

Severus Snape is literally the most important character of the entire Marauders' generation because the fate of all of them depends on him, and because, basically, they only exist, aside from giving Harry some parents and friends, to complete Snape's backstory. Without Snape, we wouldn’t even know what those people’s school years were like because it wouldn’t matter. It's to explain why Snape has issues, why he has that personality, why he switches sides, or why he helps Harry while simultaneously hating him that we get flashbacks and learn things about them. So, guys, you should show him a bit more respect because if you have a fandom, it's basically thanks to that character you constantly leave out of your fics filled with people with colored hair and 70s wizards behaving as if they went to school during the golden era of Gen Z.

[pangaeaseas]

I find it fascinating that the marauders fandom despises snape, who is hated by the fandom at large (though obviously also has a large fandom of course, its just different from the marauders fandom)for bullying and being a bad teacher to harry and especially Neville,( and calling lily a slur and becoming a death eater but crucially repents)but forgives and babygirlifies Barty Crouch jr. Unrepentant death eater and...also bad teacher.Who, let's see, tortured Nevilles parents, casts the torture spell used on them in class in front of Neville, is generally a bad teacher for turning draco into a ferret btw, and who develops this weird troubling relationship with Neville who must have been absolutely horrified to know he was being taught by the guy who tortured his parents. So: snape is a bad teacher to neville and this is unforgivable, but bcj is a bad teacher to Neville and this is fine.

[danadiadea]

Sirius and Severus are not enemies.

They are not rivals.

They don't have a "bickering" or a "beef" or "mutual dislike".

Sirius is Snape's abuser.

He physically and verbally bullied him for years.

He murder attempted him because it would "serve Snape right".

He was an SA enabler to him, separated from directly applying sexual aggression by an incredibly thin line.

Severus has a fucking traumatic reaction to Sirius. It's not him being childish. It's him reacting on a person who gave him trauma how people who experienced trauma usually react. That's how the human brain works, since it doesn't want its owner to be injured or die.

And Severus doesn't owe Black a-ny-thing. Azkaban or not – Severus has no obligation to give a single fuck. Sirius abused him for fun, so he needs to sod off and if he doesn't have the guts to apologise, then at the very least to stop mistreating and triggering Snape further, to be a half-decent person. Severus has all the rights in the world to treat Sirius howewer the hell he pleases. And yet, it canon he still manages to treat adult Sirius better than adult Sirius treats him.

The abuser insulting the victim and the victim insulting the abuser (and Sirius doesn't only insult Severus, he tries to harm him despite Harry literally begging him not to, and intentionally hurts him in PoA when he's unconscious) are not in the same position, even if Sirius can't attack with his little friendgroup from the back and bear no consequences anymore. Breaking news – abuse leaves an impact on the mental state of an abused party, and an especially strong one during direct interactions with people who violated them.

Please stop pretending their conflict is equal. Thank you.

[lilithofpenandbook]

Something about Dumbledore being so hard on Snape

Dumbledore being scornful of Snape even when Snape was on his knees

Dumbledore emphasising that Snape made a mistake and must pay for it

Dumbledore who kept reminding Snape of his mistake even when he was grieving Lily

Dumbledore who didn't just let Snape change sides, he needed Snape to change his heart

Dumbledore who made the same mistakes as Snape and has been living in guilt ever since

Dumbledore who realised Snape was following in his footsteps

Dumbledore who may have started out thinking of Snape as cowardly or selfish but soon grew to trust him

Dumbledore who gave Snape half truths because if worst came to worst then Voldemort would have all the information right on his arm

Dumbledore who trusted Snape enough to not lie to him about the fact that he wasn't telling him everything even though he knew Snape resented it

Dumbledore who trusted Snape so much he knew that even if Snape resented him he would not betray him

Dumbledore who left everything he worked for in Snape's hands knowing it would be safe

Dumbledore who asked Snape to be the one to kill him, not just to save Draco's soul but for his own sake

Dumbledore who chose to die but only at the hands of someone he had grown to love

Dumbledore who once saw Snape as a desperate selfish boy that disgusted him

Dumbledore who made Snape his heir

Dumbledore who made Snape his.

[iamnmbr3]

Actually, I do have a question on your thoughts about the interesting relationship between Draco and Severus.

I'm not sure how much the movies got right or not but I know a common fanon theory is that Draco bonded with him as a kinda uncle/father figure? Honestly I looked back at 6 year and the only adult who actually actively seemed to notice and give a shit about Draco's deteriorating health was Snape and the way he always seemed to just expect things from Draco in such a way makes me think there's a more familial or maybe master and student (like I'm talking classic master of an art and apprentice kinda deal where they're very close and watching each other work) kinda deal.

I've always kinda agreed with this take but I don't have canon book evidence to really understand it more? Thoughts?

Interesting question. (I'm more of a book fan myself so as to how much the movies got right my personal view is - not much - despite the outstanding efforts by Tom Felton and Alan Rickman who both gave fabulous performances imho). I think the idea of Snape as a father/uncle figure to Draco is a very popular concept that is actually more fanon than canon. Certainly Snape and Draco have interacted outside school because Snape is friends with Lucius and presumably maintained that friendship even after Voldemort's first fall in preparation for resuming his duties eventually (because remember Dumbledore was certain Voldemort was not permanently destroyed, and he probably shared that information with Snape, even if he didn't explain why he was so sure).

I certainly think Snape would've therefore spent time around Draco - and professed to care about him to some degree in order to curry favour with Lucius. Of course, Lucius probably viewed Snape as an inferior (due to wealth and blood status) who he was taking under his wing (we see the start of that dynamic in the flashback in book 7 when Lucius is a Prefect). That power dynamic only started to change post book 4 as Snape rose in Voldemort's favour while Lucius fell.

I think Draco always liked Snape and considered him a family friend/acquaintance but I don't they were close enough that Draco would consider him a father figure or uncle. Especially since Draco already had a father who he looked up to and who was involved in his life (no I don't buy into the theories that Lucius was secretly Crucioing Draco over the holidays or anything like that) so I don't think he was that starved for an adult parental figure to turn to.

In book 6 Snape tries to help Draco (both due to his promise to Narcissa and because he's trying to find out Draco's plans in order to share them with Dumbledore) but Draco, despite being in a desperate situation, rebuffs him at every turn. He doesn't trust Snape and also probably resents him for rising in Voldemort's favour while his own father's fortunes have fallen.

This is just my personal read though and that doesn't mean that alternative readings or headcanons are wrong or uninteresting.

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - September 2023 (ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Salt on the Western Wind by Saras_Girl

When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected. Rec Post

Transfigurations by Resonant

Five years after Voldemort’s defeat, Harry returns to England to help re-open Hogwarts. Rec Post

The Arc of the Pendulum by brummell (actualite)

After his father casts a mysterious curse on Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy is forced to try to make things right. Rec Post

The Lily Spell by pickledghost

Harry Potter is one of the most handsome and sought after alphas on the Hogwarts Higher Education Programme. Draco Malfoy on the other hand, is the Seventh Year omega son of deceased Death Eaters and is widely ignored and shunned by his peers. Harry doesn’t even know Draco exists until he discovers that the younger boy is pregnant with his baby thanks to a spell gone wrong. Rec Post

Kiss the Joy (Until the Sun Rise) by ICMezzo  @icmezzo

The Room of Requirement was severely damaged in the war, but not so much that it could not provide for one lost student and another young hero—especially when they needed each other most of all. Rec Post

Night Magic by Kbrick @kbrick

Eighth Year isn’t what Draco or Harry expected. Harry’s horribly lonely in the aftermath of his breakup with Ginny, Draco’s stuck in a clandestine friends-with-benefits situation with a closeted Blaise, and neither one of them can ever get any bloody sleep. But when our favorite boys bond over their insomnia-related woes, things start looking up. Rec Post

The Sun in Summer (Presto Pizzicato) by Cannibalschism @cannibalschism

Harry Potter is an orphan. Everyone knows this, him most of all. Taken in by the agoraphobic and ancient Dowager Viscountess Cassiopeia Black, Harry’s musical aptitude was evident even from a young age. He has trained all his life to perform in front of a noble audience and step upon the shoulders of giants. To be known for his accomplishment and skill. To be great. And he will do anything to achieve that goal. Draco Malfoy is an orphan. He hasn’t been as such for very long, however. Known as the Instrumenteur, Draco runs a modest shoppe in lower Diagon Alley where he creates and repairs musical instruments. The Viscountess Cassiopeia Black stole everything from him the night of his parents’ fatal accident. When Harry Potter, the orphan that wretched woman took in even as she cast out her own blood, proposes the most ludicrous of schemes that might just get Draco his stolen title and life back, who is he to decline? In a time of galas, secrets, corsets, and symphonies, can love prevail over all else? Rec Post

WHISKY-TANGO-FOXTROT by Vukovich @vukovich

“Potter,” Malfoy said with a slow smile. “You’re a trashy, new money slut.” “Yeah? Maybe you like it.” – The worst thing about being the Golden Boy is the freebies. Free drinks. Easy sex. It’s all too easy. The worst thing about being a Malfoy is the expectations. Marriage. Kids. It’s all so scripted. Harry wants his arse kicked. Draco decides to grab life by the balls. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

A True Entanglement by Booktopus @thebooktopus

One moment, Harry was minding his own business, going about his workday, and the next, he found himself being dragged across the Ministry by a red string that had somehow curled up in a pretty little bow around his wrist. A story of fate, smut, falling in love, and a string named Harold.

Fire Meet Gasoline by lettersbyelise @lettersbyelise

When Draco’s anger management issues land him in St Mungo’s, he thinks his Quidditch career is over. But Harry, A&E Healer and notorious workaholic, is faced with a similar predicament. To save their jobs, the two of them decide to fake a relationship. All they have to do is convince their friends and employers… and not fall in love in the process. Simple, right?

Everything is Relative to You by honeybeet @thehoneybeet

Potter was supposed to have lived. Draco is certain of this. That Potter would no longer walk the earth was tantamount to the sun moving west to east across the sky. If only he could have stopped this from happening, if he’d have known… It comes to him as ideas often did: too late. Or, Harry dreams of his past lives, and Draco is in every one.

we'll keep the king by BlueSundayCake @bluesundaycake

On a cold December morning, Remus Lupin shows up on Severus Snape's doorstep with a child with very familiar eyes.

Evitative by Vichan

In the summer before his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry is drawn to a room in Grimmauld Place. Like the Gryffindor he is, he enters the room without fear. The room is a library, and Harry is surprised to find that he’s eager to learn. Then he gets the bad news: he’s been accidentally expelled from Hogwarts, and he needs to be sorted again. Everyone is confident that he’ll go straight back to Gryffindor, but with what he's been learning, Harry’s not so sure.

The White Pawn by Soupy_George

When eighteen-year-old Draco Malfoy finds himself back at Hogwarts on the eve of Voldemort's infamous return, he is confronted with the most difficult decision he's ever had to make: Relive the 6th year at school he's tried so hard to forget, or do the unthinkable and ally himself with Potter's lot...

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo, Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖