Sucks to be Snape in any event.

In my head, this is the subtitle of every book in the series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Snape Gets Chewed On, Suspected of Evil, SET ON FIRE While Saving Brat's Life

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: ... not so much about Snape, really

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Snape Gets Humiliated, Reminded of Adolescent Pants-Wetting Moment

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Snape's Dark Mark Exposed, Returns to Terrifying Life of Espionage

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: People Die Because Brat Doesn't Trust Snape - Also, Privacy? Don't Make Me Laugh

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Snape's New WORST MOMENT EVER

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Snape Works Undercover, Is Hated By All, Makes Like Tasha Yar

Yes, I know my lens is narrow.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Snape Gets Chewed On, Suspected of Evil

You forgot being set on fire by a firstie.

Thanks! I'd totally forgotten that. Oh, Snape.

While I had read the first 5 books of the series to CJ when he was a pre-reader, he read book 6 himself and then decided to start at book 1 before reading the final installment. This child is 11 and it has taken him about a year to read books 1 through 6. He has just started Deathly Hollows!! I am so excited to FINALLY be able to talk with him about the story.

When he finishes, I'm going to have to find another good series to keep him reading big meaty stories.

I'm still in Snape's head. I've learned that Petunia was jealous of Lilly and that is her basis of hating all things magic. No surprise there, I'm not even sure that was supposed to be a revelation. I learned that James wasn't exactly pleasant his first year either. I also learned that Snape's worst memory was his worst not because of the humiliation, but because of the words that he wished he could take back. Not that it really mattered, his Death Eater aspirations already doomed his chances with Lilly.

Dumbledore made his appearance and Snape made his plea. Lilly has died and Snape is urged by Dumbledore to help keep her son alive. It's sad that Snape doesn't want that to ever be revealed, but Harry is Potter's son as well so I can see that.

I'll still be in Snape's head when I do the homeward commute.

My favorite all-time Dumbledore line comes from that chapter:

"Keep an eye on Quirrell, won't you?"

(Whitefonted)

Yes, I know my lens is narrow.

But you're cutting through the crap and getting right to the heart of the matter!

When he finishes, I'm going to have to find another good series to keep him reading big meaty stories.

Oooh! I'd recommend anything Diana Wynne Jones, although they're not gazillion-page epics. If you're after gazillion-page epics, though, how about Ender's Game and its various sequels? They're FABULOUS.

Poor Snape, the only thing he ever achieved that he really wanted was mastery over potions.

He's a terrific character. Someone who despises the hero but who is essential for everything to work and is a hero in his own right. The good guys don't have to be likeable.

The good guys don't have to be likeable.

This was one of my favorite continuing themes. The guy you don't like doesn't have to be the bad guy, and sometimes people who seem ok really, really aren't.

The guy you don't like doesn't have to be the bad guy, and sometimes people who seem ok really, really aren't.

And the really evil people all have French names so they're easy to spot.

Oh, crap.