prillalar | Snape and Draco

As far as I remember... no. Snape doesn't particularly favor Draco. He favors the Slytherins, yes, and he picks on the Gryffindors, especially The Three, but he doesn't generally seem to favor anyone.

I would think that the only reason he might favor Draco would be to annoy Harry. Or impress on Harry that Harry is a mere mote in the universe's eye.

If he *does* favour him, why?

I can't remember if he actually does or not, but as for the why... Lucius Malfoy is a powerful, rich member of the school Board of Governors. I think that's reason enough for someone like Snape, who desperately wants recognition, and quite possibly the DADA job (if he still wants it and it isn't just habit to apply anymore), and having a good friend on the Board can't hurt.

If you want a 'more noble' reason, well, he has to keep his cover as DE sympathizer and so he curries favor with the Malfoys.

I'm not sure Snape favors Draco; it's more like Draco's just always involved with things Snape favors, like Gryffindor-bothering. Also, there's a bit of Harry-centrism at play: we may not be seeing Snape favoring other Slytherins simply because Harry doesn't pay half as much attention to other Slytherins.

In PoA, he seems to favor Draco at least over Harry and Ron, because when Draco is still in his sling, Snape makes Harry and Ron do his ingredients-prep; in PS/SS he praises Draco's evenly prepped roots in front of the whole class.

Also, in OotP, Draco clearly has some degree of permission to come into Snape's classroom after hours, which is how he intrudes on that Occlumency lesson. But whether that's technically favoritism or something else is in the eye of the beholder - it seems more than the Teacher + Annoying Student thing to me, though.

I buy this 100%; particularly the blindered vision we have of that world because pretty much everything is filtered through Harry's perceptions.

I'm glad we have no idea about Snape's motivations quite yet. That makes for fertile fanfic fields and leaves JKR plenty of room to fill things in with fascinating backstory.

I think he does. He uses Draco's potion as an example to the class of how to do it right, and he does so in a fairly friendly/complimentary manner. I don't have the books to check it, but I'm also almost positive that Harry thinks something about Snape appearing to like Draco. (I think all that *may* be in the first Potions lesson in PS/SS, but I'm not sure.)

Other interactions are a whole lot more ambiguous, but I think that, taken together, they could indicate Snape's favor -- Draco was picked for Slytherin prefect (surely a decision heavily influenced by the preference of the head of house), his response when Draco says he's the best teacher at the school and should be Headmaster, the way he whispers spell advice in Draco's ear during the CoS duel, when Draco's arm is 'injured' he essentially assigns Harry (Draco's worst enemy) to be Draco's servant in Potions class.

I think Draco's behavior is actually a stronger argument than Snape's -- I can't see Draco acting as enthusiastic and positive toward Snape if he felt that Snape didn't properly appreciate him. The thing is, where Snape is concerned I'm not sure Draco's just being a sycophant. Draco is extremely emotionally honest, and I'm not sure he could maintain the act, without Harry ever noticing a slip, for five years. I think Draco is actually sincere in his admiration and respect for Snape, and I think on some level Snape recognizes and responds to that, regardless of whatever political motives Snape may have where the Malfoys are concerned. (Of course, Book 6 or 7 could blow that theory right out of the water, but as of now I'm convinced.)

As for Draco being likable, I think he's considered charming and funny by the Slytherins, given the way he 'holds court' and is constantly making everyone laugh (there's even mention of a group of fifth year Slytherins laughing when he teases Ron in CoS). And whatever his political leanings, Snape *is* a Slytherin.

This is an excellent argument. I've always wondered what Snape's relationship with his house was like, particularly in light of how McGonagall handles her duties for Gryffindor.

I haven't been reading HP fic for long, but I'm already tired of all the "my little snakelets" nonsense, and crave some good Snape As True Head Of House fic. Any recommendations?

I always got the feeling that Snape was walking a fineline with Draco. I don't think Snape lieks him. I don't think Snape likes anyone. He repsects Dumbledore. I don't see that he likes him.

Snape will defer to Draco or help Draco to one up Harry or any Gryffindor. But not for Draco. Partly because I think he likes to see Slytherin do well. And partly because I think it is a subversive way to encourage laziness in the Death Eaters and vigor in the Trio.

It is my pet theory that Snape knows Harry will have to fight Voldie - and he is trying to toughen him up - whiel making the future Death Eater's soft. This plan is particularly Slytherin as it allows Snape to maintain his DE front in the eyes of the DE's and their children. And it also allows him to be nasty to Harry. But I think Snape really thinks it is good for Harry too - in the sense that he is not being pampered or coddled and that will help him face Voldemort. Because I don't think Snape really wants Voldie to win. Though of course I might be very very wrong.

Yeah, but D is good at Potions. They have the exact same relationship that I had with my Snapish teacher.

I'm already tired of all the "my little snakelets" nonsense

Oh god, me too. Yet another fanfic cliche on the "could go forever without ever hearing this again" pile.

From PoA:

"How is it, Draco?" simpered Pansy Parkinson. "Does it hurt much?"

"Yeah," said Malfoy, putting on a brave sort of grimace. But Harry saw
him wink at Crabbe and Goyle when Pansy had looked away.

"Settle down, settle down," said Professor Snape idly.

Harry and Ron scowled at each other; Snape wouldn't have said "settle
down" if they'd walked in late, he'd have given them detention. But
Malfoy had always been able to get away with anything in Snape's
classes; Snape was head of Slytherin House, and generality favored his
own students above all others.

They were making a new potion today, a Shrinking Solution. Malfoy set up
his cauldron right next to Harry and Ron, so that they were preparing
their ingredients on the same table.

"Sir," Malfoy called, "sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots,
because of my arm --"

"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him," said Snape without looking up.

And, whee! A chance to use my lego!Draco icon!

Fanon has beat it into my brain that Snape favors Draco, or at least, tolerates him and is nicer to him than he is to Harry or the other Gryffindors. As to why, well, Draco is (from all we've seen) THE Most Important Slytherin, and Snape's head of Slytherin House. It would be vital to Snape's job to at least appear to favor such a person.

But, like I said, fanon has likely led to that conclusion. Is it even possible anymore to discuss Slytherin politics without fanon leaking in? Hmmm.

Hmmm. Not All Scars Are Visible (http://www.geocities.com/elspethdixon20686/Scars.html) by Elspeth Dixon has a wonderful Snape. His role as House Head is pretty peripheral, but I like what it does show, particularly his interactions with Draco. I think it was written prior to OotP (and maybe even GoF) so it's not canon-compatible. There are more stories in this particular universe, but unless you like angst I'd avoid the sequel to this (I think it's called 'A Terrible Beauty') NASAV is one of my all time favorite HP fanfics, but I honestly wish I'd never read ATB!

marinarusalka's 'Harry Potter and the Polka Dot Plague' also shows a lovely glimpse of Snape's relationship with his Slytherins, but I don't know where it's archived!

Since I have a decided taste for romance in my fanfic, often the stories I read are heavily focused on 'the' relationship and other aspects of the characters fall by the wayside. Will try to think of more that show Snape dealing with his House and if I do I'll post them.

Aiieee! I should never try to post about points of canon when I don't have the books at hand! I was thinking Snape made Harry chop for Draco. (Whether Harry or Ron though, Snape managed to both get them and give Draco a treat.)

Oh, he does that too, later - makes Harry skin the shrivelfigs.

Oh, good! I'm not going crazy. *g*

I think that Snape doesn't really LIKE anybody, but he knows better than to NOT favour Draco, because that would undoubtedly get back to his father and could provide some serious repercussions for him. Besides, if he were to attack Draco in public in any way, the Gryffindors would totally latch onto that and Draco would never hear the end of it. His entire position with them relies on the fact that he is black and white - always cruel to Gryffindors, always favouring Slytherins.

I think there's also another aspect to it though, which is that he doesn't want to see Draco turn out like he did. While Draco's a bully, it's because he's weak. He'd be easily shot down by Harry or Ron or Hermione, who are stronger characters, and it reminds him of himself when he was a child, dealing with the Marauders. The last thing Draco needs is to be chastized by his own head of house as well. Unfortunately, Snape is obviously not meant to be a father, because, by letting Draco get away with all that shit, he's giving him positive reinforcement for negative traits. I would imagine he doesn't want Draco to turn out like his father, but he has no idea how to make sure it doesn't happen.

(I have plenty more to say on this subject, but I am braindead.)

Hey, I like "my little ones", but only if it's well done. The Smallest Slytherin (http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~webbrl/SmallestSlytherin/) is one I recommend. I think I'm partial to the idea that Slytherin House has a life hidden from the rest of the School because I need to believe that Snape is more than the canon suggests. (For that matter ditto Draco and Lucius Malfoy.)

Let's put it this way, sometimes the fanon is more fun......

Polka Dot Plague is archived on fanfiction.net along with other fics of hers: http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=7702

I haven't a clue about your Draco question. But any time I see a SnowCrash reference, I've gotta squee! I totally love your icon. It's so perfect!

Draco's permission to come into Snape's office unannounced might be a result of Draco's Prefecture. He *is* set over the other Slytherins, and so would need to get his Head of House if anything beyond his ability to manage happened.

Of course, Draco is very familiar to Snape (and vice versa) in that scene. He's probably going outside the bounds of a normal Prefect to Housemaster relationship; that could just be Draco taking it as his due in his arrogance, though.

I would think that the only reason he might favor Draco would be to annoy Harry.

Draco as unwitting pawn! Poor boy, and he thinks he's so important. *g*

I think that's reason enough for someone like Snape, who desperately wants recognition, and quite possibly the DADA job (if he still wants it and it isn't just habit to apply anymore), and having a good friend on the Board can't hurt.

Poor Snape -- he'll never know how to play the game, will he? He seems to have a hard time accepting that things don't go by merit at all.

Good point. It's hard to judge everything since it's all through Harry.

Gryffindor-bothering

Sounds like a sport. Do you suppose they have teams and all?

There seems to be a lot of room for Snape's backstory. I was quite impressed by what we got in OotP. She's rounding him out far more than I thought she would.

And I LOVE your icon. *licks CSM as he goes by*

Snape and Draco

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