I think it was Rowling's reaction, too. The more I think about it, the more I can hear her saying things like that. "See, girls? Snape's pathetic and Draco's a sheeplike loser. Get over them and swoon on the heroes!"

I don't give up real relationships in the hope that Snape or Draco will notice me, really, Ms Author. I can tell the difference. Like you, I found Snape to be "a gift of a character" and I'm sorry you decided to slash and burn that gift instead of giving it wholly and completely intact. Thanks tons.