Notes: Chapter Four

There was one change to chapter four, and it was a pretty major one. Not so much a change, actually, as an addition. Near the end of the chapter, Lavender and Parvati bring up an interesting point: Snape's looks are improving. "Just because his looks are marginally better--" is what Parvati says.

She also points out that his skin and hair aren't as greasy anymore. Lavender points out that his skin isn't as sallow anymore. Both girls, along with Ginny, agree that the changes are not overly dramatic, but noticeable if you know what to look for.

They theorize about why he suddenly changed, and the opinion was that, with the war over, he is starting over, so to speak. No more stress and worrying and wondering if he would be caught in his role as double agent has left him free to focus upon more mundane matters, such as personal hygiene.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Parvati asked. “The war is over. He has the time, ability, and the will to make an effort. He probably feels the freedom as much as anyone else.”

There is also a smaller change to the chapter that I hid among this change. That would be Harry's feelings towards Snape and his sacrifices. We learn that Harry does know and honor what Snape has done during the war.

“He was a spy, as you all know. Think about it. Who would have the least freedom while Voldemort was still a threat? He could do nothing without fear that Voldemort, his supposed lord and master, would find out and learn of his duplicity. He lived in constant fear of his life. Now that he’s gone, Snape is probably enjoying his hard won freedom more than anyone. We all make sacrifices during war, of course, but I can think of few who made quite so many as Snape.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. Hermione knew there was no love lost between Snape and Harry. Harry–and even Ron–may have learned and finally believed that Snape was on their side, but that didn’t mean they were suddenly friends. The only thing that had changed was now, in place of Harry’s contempt, there was a grudging respect for the man who had done so much to help their cause. Harry and Ron might still refer to him as a ‘greasy git’ but they both remembered what he had done.

These changes are very different from each other, and the latter may not be what one would necessarily expect to find in a parody fic. But I feel they are both necessary.

I had always planned to have Snape better his appearance. I have always thought that he looked the way he did because he simply didn't care. He had no will to look better, because he was far more worried about his double agent role. I think Snape was one of those who believed Dumbledore when the older man claimed Voldemort was not gone for good. No matter whose side Snape is really on (in canon, he's obviously on our side in my fic), the news that Voldemort would return must have weighed heavily on him. I feel that Snape is a Slytherin in every sense of the word. Not good or bad, he just is. I think if given the choice, Snape would not ally himself with the 'good' side or the 'evil' side; he would go with whoever was most likely to win. I think saving his own skin is his first concern. Having power and freedom is his second. When he was younger, I think his priorities were different; he still wanted to be on the winning side, of course, but he let himself be manipulated by the promise of the power he might acquire.

But I'll get more into his psyche in a later post. The main point is that I've always planned on him improving his looks. Now that Voldemort is no longer a threat, now that he doesn't have to constantly worry about his chances of impending death, now that he can simply live as any other wizard, I truly believe he would now have the energy and the will to improve himself. I doubt he would ever be a 'metrosexual' type of man (though that would work nicely in a parody fic), mainly because he is very involved in his work and research. Men like that simply don't remember or think of small things like getting their hair cut regularly and such mundane things. But the basics he could handle. So he does.

As for the addition of Harry's grudging respect for Snape, I realized that it seemed very insensitive for Harry to be a part of a group that would so torture poor Snape. Harry likes to think that he understands the man better than most students--not necessarily true--because they have shared some of the same experiences. I had to show that Harry is not heartless, is not a bastard or trying to be deliberately cruel. No one in the group is doing this with a cruel intention. It is meant to be a little revenge, yes, but not in a cruel manner. None of the tasks will harm him, either emotionally, physically, or magically. Might make him uncomfortable or dent his dignity, yes, but nothing he can't easily recover from.

So, now you hopefully understand why I added what could be considered a cliche. And why I added something that seemingly has no real place in this story. Trust me, both have a purpose. You shall see what that purpose is soon.