I have this post on Sirius and Regulus and East of Eden I keep thinking about putting up. I think the trouble with it is that I can't stop babbling in it, just wandering off and wondering how things could be, given that we have zero to no canon about them.

Today, though, I was thinking about

In an interview about Six Feet Under Alan Ball, rather wonderfully, referred to the character of Rico Diaz as the tragically underappreciated adopted son or something to that affect. I loved that because I thought that was absolutely true--Rico was brought into the business by Nathaniel Fisher, Sr. He was the most interested in Fisher & Sons, the business, and he was the most talented (he was an artist at reconstruction). Yet he could never quite be part of the family, and so part of the business. In a very real way he was one of the the "Sons" of Fisher & Sons, but was never really seen that way. Mostly the way he was treated as a son, imo, was to be resented by the real sons when they felt inadequate.

That made me think about how I always felt Krycek was a lot like that in The X-files. Mulder and Spender were both the legitimate sons of Bill Mulder and CSM (or both of CSM, damn you, Chris Carter), and Krycek was the outsider fighting his way into the Conspiracy. Although Krycek was more determined and willing, it was Mulder and Spender who were the desirable ones because they were blood.

So what does that have to do with Snape? Well, nothing. Or not much, exactly. It's just that I was thinking about Snape and Sirius. The two characters have a pretty intense relationship in canon. We are first told by DD in PS/SS that Snape hates Harry because he and Harry's father hated each other. Certainly Snape hates Harry because he reminds him of James, and both Sirius and Snape are accused of mistaking Harry for his father. So while James and Sirius were best friends, and Snape and James hated each other, James also provides a sort of focal point around which Sirius and Snape hate each other.

However, since I'm somebody who really likes family sagas, and in HP I think all the family sagas are the tragedies on the Dark Side of the book (the Weasleys have their drama and their dysfunction, but it's mostly rooted in the present...it's just not the operatic drama of the Blacks), I can't help but think about Snape as a Black. Sirius leaves his family and is blasted off the family tree. He goes to a family on the "good" side, the Potters, and they become his family. In the present time Sirius is considered a member of that family, I would say.

But what about Snape? The post-HBP interest in Regulus begs the question of what, if any, relationship Snape and Regulus had. Regulus was the son who stayed on the family tree. Even after rejecting the DEs, he was still a loyal Black as far as we know. They were both DEs together. HBP makes a point of bringing Regulus into the fold, even if you don't think he is R.A.B. (which I think he is). Slughorn first brings him up as a Slytherin, "I got [Sirius'] brother Regulus when he came along." (He sees the Black boys as "a matched set.") I can't find the other quote, but I know there's somewhere where someone says that Regulus only lived a few days after leaving the DEs. Iow, although we never heard of the lad before OotP, everyone is on a first name basis with him. Well, that's part of the fun of a coming-of-age mystery. All the adults know more than you do, because they were all alive then. How was Harry to know he should worry about Regulus when he didn't know he existed, and then when he did know Sirius acted like he wasn't important?

It becomes very tempting to imagine Snape, who is the same age as Sirius, replacing him in a way in the family's eyes. We have no evidence that Regulus looked at Snape the way he had at Sirius, but there's just something interesting about Snape being at Grimmauld Place given that he was (or is) more in line with what the house represents. (It adds some nice possibilities for the fact he won't stay for dinner.)

The main reason for thinking of it is that in HBP Snape *is* there helping the Blacks. Narcissa (Black) Malfoy comes to him for help protecting her son (also a Black). Snape and Bellatrix (Black) LeStrange seem to know each other very well. Narcissa references Snape's friendship with Lucius (Sirius had earlier called Snape Lucius' lapdog), but while we know he and Lucius have a relationship it's the Blacks with whom Snape seems the most bound up: Draco, Narcissa, Bellatrix and Sirius. Snape may not be "family" in their Pureblood eyes, but their ties seem almost as close. Had Sirius not been a "blood traitor" he might have been the one his cousin, Narcissa, went to for protection for her son as head of the family. He might have been the one sniping with Bellatrix. (I can see him making a UV as well, if not necessarily this one.) Harry tells us Snape seems to like Draco the very first day of class. Has he met him before? Is it just that Draco was Lucius' son, or is Snape close with Draco's family? And by Draco's family, I mostly mean the Blacks, since those are the relatives we usually see in canon? This storyline is a family drama, with Voldemort being simply the outside influence. In fact, Voldemort seems to spend the whole year picking on Draco.

It makes me wonder, thinking back on OotP, if Snape ever spent time in the house at Grimmauld Place the way Sirius stayed with the Potters. He wasn't best buddies with Regulus as far as we know, but he may have gotten involved with the whole family during Voldemort's first rise. Fanon has often named Snape Draco's godfather and while this might not be literally true he is rather acting as one in HBP.

Maybe the other reason I wonder about this comes down to house elves. Besides being hilarious when he waxed rhapsodic over Draco's bone structure in HBP, Kreacher was also very serious in considering him a Black. Dobby betrayed the Malfoys to serve Harry Potter; Kreacher betrayed Sirius and would love to serve the last of the Blacks. I think maybe it's the fact that I think of Kreacher as part of the Black family that made me start thinking about Snape this way.

Snape may be a Prince, but he's a half-blood. He's not married--Pureblood ideology makes it impossible for him to marry himself into the kind of family he supported as a DE. But that doesn't mean he didn't fashion himself some place in that family. It's interesting for me to think that that might drive some of his confrontations with Sirius as well. Sirius may have left his family behind and said good riddance, but would he really like the idea of Snape getting a spot in it? I don't think it's too wild an idea to think that Snape would have coveted a spot in that family. He was a DE, he supported the ideology (I don't think you can surgically remove Pureblood Mania from the DE ideology so that Snape's not a bigot), he used Mudblood as an insult at least once. Sirius compares him to a Pureblood's lapdog. The name Half-blood Prince could mean he's a Prince among half-bloods, or it can also be Snape claiming a place for himself in the wizarding side of his family. He's a half-blood, but he's still a Prince. He did perhaps want a wizard family. (Can't blame the man there--look at Harry and Hermione!)

I have no idea what really went on. It just seems like there's some good potential for something in the fact that Snape plays such a huge part in the Black family drama of HBP, taking over as the patriarch in some ways, when Sirius was so defined by being an Outsider. Not that Snape's role goes completely smoothly. Bellatrix is obviously suspicious of him, but more on Voldemort's behalf. Draco is potentially even more interesting on that score, since just as Snape steps into a father's role Draco becomes rebellious and suspicious. One wonders if there's a "you're not my father!" lurking there somewhere, with Draco projecting some of his anger about his father onto Snape. I've always liked the fact that when Snape and Draco argue the thing that makes Draco lose it and stomp off in a huff is when Snape responds to his claim that Snape is trying to steal his glory by saying he knows Draco is upset about his father. Seems like Snape doesn't buy that glory stuff either.

Anyway, I guess I haven't actually said anything. It's just an interesting aspect to Snape and Sirius' relationship. In the fight between the two in OotP, Sirius, in one of his Black-est (and Draco-ish) moments, leans back in his chair lazily and, speaking to the ceiling, says, "You know, I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see." This creates an "ugly flush" in Snape's pallid face. He then becomes quietly waspish, and hits Sirius with the charge of being useless. Harry later remembers this and claims Snape goaded Sirius into leaving the house, implying he was a coward. It's certainly true that this is Sirius' sore spot. Could Snape have pulled it out because Sirius had hit his own sore spot by claiming the Black House as his own and speaking to Snape like an unworthy guest in it? Not even a poor relation? That ugly flush seems a bit much for the remark Sirius made otherwise, at least to me. Perhaps Sirius was really was pulling out the Pureblood Black card, without Harry realizing it. If Snape longed to be a real Black, I could certainly see Sirius mocking him about it.
Tags:
ext_6866: (Diving in)

From: [identity profile] sistermagpie.livejournal.com

Part 2


Pilly made a good point in asking if the Blacks really do hate all things Potter. Consider that they don't. If the Potters were always considered a good family, even if people like James pick the wrong side in the war, that would make Snape even more irritated. James, like Sirius, was born into what he wants. The aristocracy have more freedom to make dumb choices.

Pilly spoke of the Weasleys being traitors and that really is an interesting idea. It feels like (and maybe this is just by accident) the Weasleys have done something beyond just supporting Muggle Protection acts. Is it the way they live, their lack of class? I don't know, but they almost act like the Weasleys have committed some taboo beyond marrying the wrong person. (After all; they haven't. Andromeda is blasted off for marrying a Muggleborn, but the Weasleys are still completely Pure at this point.) Is it just for plot purposes? Maybe. I've never been able, for instance, to get around the fact that Draco doesn't seem to find anything wrong with Harry's blood. Is that just related to Draco's ambivalence about Pureblood mania (as I described in the post where I talked about that--that's not to diminish it or claim Draco doesn't really believe it, just that there are times he seems to deal with the reality that it's nonsense).

Btw, to get away from the idea again, I can't help but find it really neat and significant that the families of our two Pureblood MWPP heroes were the Potters and the Blacks. Malfoy is French--Norman, it sounds. So is LeStrange. Many of the DE names seem foreign or Anglicanized. Black and Potter are not only very British but, if I'm not mistaken, they're both tradesman names. A potter is one who makes pots. A Black is a blacksmith (I think Smith can come from different types of smith-black, silver, etc.) Sirius could easily have been called Sirius Smith. That just somehow seems interesting to me--they're not exactly what we would think of as aristocratic names. I can't help but feel like a Draco who was a Malfoy-LeStrange (heh-or Malfoy-Peltier) would lack the metal the one in canon has.

From: [identity profile] seductivedark.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


Black can also mean 'white'. It comes from the same root as 'Blake' and 'Blanc' or 'Blanco'. As 'White', it would be a descriptive rather than a trades name, either of place (by the White Cliffs) or looks (with the pale or White Face).
ext_6866: (Yum!)

From: [identity profile] sistermagpie.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


Ooh! That's very cool. Their family motto is French too.

From: [identity profile] black-dog.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


The aristocracy have more freedom to make dumb choices.

We may be very close on this, just from different angles/flavors. See my reply to Pilly above.

It feels like (and maybe this is just by accident) the Weasleys have done something beyond just supporting Muggle Protection acts. Is it the way they live, their lack of class? I don't know, but they almost act like the Weasleys have committed some taboo beyond marrying the wrong person.

Interesting. Again in response to Pilly, I take the opposite position -- that the Muggle Protection Act really is what matters, more than the poverty. It's the tangible political threat that makes the purebloods frightened, and therefore wild and furious. I guess I do see real political parallels to um, certain Muggle events, and could see the likely salience of politics to this rivalry in the WW. Just a contrary opinion, for your consideration!

I've never been able, for instance, to get around the fact that Draco doesn't seem to find anything wrong with Harry's blood.

Well, but when he does focus personal insults on Potter, they all seem to have to do with Lily. So maybe there is a subtle "blood" issue there. I'm more struck by his general respect for Potter, whenever he's caught talking about him unaware -- in B&B, in the Polyjuice scene, in the train compartment. The exceptions are public performances, like the Potter Stinks! badges, or the Rita Skeeter stuff. In private, it seems, we don't get the sort of direct personal contempt vibe we'd expect from Draco -- it's something more complicated, it's maybe about shaming Harry out of his unfortunate friends and alliances and choices. (At least until the end of OOTP/beginning of HBP, when it becomes personal.) Is that a reasonable generalization?

Many of the DE names seem foreign or Anglicanized. Black and Potter are not only very British but, if I'm not mistaken, they're both tradesman names.

Yeah, JKR is maybe cutting across conventional aristocratic conventions here, making the WW sociological issues sort of sui generis. Reading this, I tried to think for a moment about patterns in the assignment of surnames, french, saxon, "faerie" (Flitwick), and whatnot. Can't convince myself there's any consistency, though I'd be curious if anyone came up with more systematic patterns.

or Malfoy-Peltier

Oh, don't make me cry, now! :(
ext_6866: (Default)

From: [identity profile] sistermagpie.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


See my reply to Pilly above.

I wish I'd seen it before I replied--I totally agree. Also, remember how JKR said that she imagined James the son of older parents who indulged him (read: spoiled, but we like him) and all that. James' family may just never have come into it. Perhaps they weren't progressives but respectable people with nice views who didn't rock the boat so much. It was James who showed up not caring and reading to show it whichever way he wanted. His parents are dead by the time Harry was born, so they may just not even have been an issue. Even if they were letting Sirius stay with them, they weren't the ones feeding his rebellion.

It's the tangible political threat that makes the purebloods frightened, and therefore wild and furious.

Also we're forgetting to talk about the fact that the Weasleys go after the Malfoys, who are also Blacks, you know? Pharnabazus points out in that essay about how the WW works that it's not like Lucius draws first blood in CoS. Arthur is already raiding the homes of suspicious Purebloods (even though he himself doesn't even seem to be in that department). We maybe shouldn't assume that the Weasleys are just not interested in knowing anything about their history either. If they are the Purebloods who have come down in the world, maybe they do want themselves to be the model family rather than the other families who are more successful financially and look down on them, you know? The resentment some of the Weasley kids feel, to me, has always made sense given their Pureblood status. There is some pride and entitlement there. The ones who have it the least are the ones who seem to suffer the least from the poverty: the older two boys (who would not be wearing hand-me-downs and have made their own way in the world) and Ginny (who as the most beautiful girl in the world and the only girl in the family also doesn't seem to have the same insecurity).

Also, one of the reasons Lucius always seemed so important is that it seems like he's the one who really hates Arthur. Perhaps Draco gets his Weasley hate from his father, who competes with Arthur at the Ministry, while the Blacks aren't as interested in them (acknowledging them as distant cousins). I don't remember Kreacher having a problem with them apart from the twins being "unnatural" because they're twins.

Well, but when he does focus personal insults on Potter, they all seem to have to do with Lily.

Is it a blood issue or just a mother issue? "You're momma wears army boots..." type thing? It's more cutting for him to accuse Harry of wanting a mummy at the Weasleys.

In private, it seems, we don't get the sort of direct personal contempt vibe we'd expect from Draco --

You know, I think you're right. In person Draco mocks Harry for being a drama queen ("Been a week since you've been in the Infirmary-that's a new record for you, isn't it?") or whatever, but in private he's usually just all, "Perfect Potter" and complaining how everyone thinks he's so great. In HBP, when he learns that he hasn't been invited to the Slug Club he just says of course Harry would be invited. He's far more upset about Neville being invited, despite Neville's blood, because I think he honestly (and correctly) thinks he's a better student. But he doesn't go off on it being unfair that Harry is brought in.

His feelings towards Harry may go through a more subtle development than we think. Sometimes he does seem to make some attempts to interact with Harry in more normal ways (the first train scene in GoF comes to mind). In HBP he should be at his most personal, but he's not. He seems to have accepted that Harry will always get attention, but you're right, there is a sort of grudging respect there. Not that he's complimenting him, but he seems to accept that it would be silly to fight about it too much. That seems like one of the things that give him hope, actually, that however much he protests he really can't completely divorce himself from reality. In CoS he protests that Hermione's the teacher's favorite, but by HBP he's obviously accepted that she's genuinely smart enough to have ideas for him to copy.

From: [identity profile] black-dog.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


Many of the DE names seem foreign or Anglicanized.

Oh, you said DE names, not pureblood names, obviously. *smacks head* Ok, scratch that.

Hints of a pattern, maybe, though it seems far from clearcut. There may be a somewhat heavier proportion of effete, french-sounding names :) among the purebloods likely to turn bad. Avery and Pettigrew might have a french flavor -- but Crouch, Riddle, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, McNair? And among the dastardly french on the side of the Order -- Lupin? Vance? Moody? Honestly I can't tell with some of these names. Any more language experts out there?

From: [identity profile] seductivedark.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


Nott: Hnott, Saxon, smooth, round, a nut. Notted, an old word for shorn, polled. The name may have come from wearing the hair short and smooth. "A nott hed had he, with a brown visage."--Chaucer.
Moody: descriptive, from disposition (from the Welsh), a hermit or monk
http://www.last-names.net/

From Ancestry.com:
Crabb - Middle English, crabbe, a crustacean, descriptive for his walk; a crabapple tree; or German/Dutch, Krabbe, someone who sells seafish or catches it
http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?html=b&ln=Crabb&sourcecode=13304
Goyle: No info about surname
McNair: Gaelic Mac Iain Uidhir ‘son of sallow John’; Gaelic Mac an Oighre ‘son of the heir’; Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir ‘son of the steward or keeper’
http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?sourcecode=13304&html=b&fn=&ln=mcnair&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
Riddle: habitational name from Ryedale in North Yorkshire
http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?sourcecode=13304&html=b&fn=&ln=riddle&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
Lupin: No info about surname (I think this one was a lead-in to the fact that he's a werewolf - Lupus = wolf)
Vance: Old English fenn
Avery: Anglo-Norman French personal name Auvery, a Norman form of Alfred; Anglo-Norman French personal name Aubri
http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?sourcecode=13304&html=b&fn=&ln=avery&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
Pettigrew: Scottish (of Norman origin): probably a nickname for a small man, from Old French petit ‘little’, ‘small’ + cru ‘growth’; Another possible explanation is that it is a nickname for a man with long thin legs, from Old French pie de grue ‘crane’s foot’
Black: http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?sourcecode=13304&html=b&fn=&ln=black&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
Snape: Old English snæp ‘area of boggy land’. In Sussex the dialect term snape is still used of boggy, uncultivable land.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?sourcecode=13304&html=b&fn=&ln=snape&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

I think most of the Purebloods will have the Norman association (excepting 'Potter', which is obviously a tradesname). The WW probably followed along the same lines as their Muggle neighbors. Maybe the French/Norman wizards came over around the same time as Wm the C?
ext_6866: (Yum!)

From: [identity profile] sistermagpie.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


Oh, you have no idea how much I love posts like this. Thank you!

From: [identity profile] cressida0201.livejournal.com

Re: Part 2


I always think of "Goyle" as being Irish because it rhymes with Doyle and Boyle. No solid proof for that, though.
.

Profile

sistermagpie: Classic magpie (Default)
sistermagpie

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags