Fandom Discussion and Poll: Snape and His Accursed Bloodline

[themostepotente]

sinick and I had a discussion not too long ago on Snape's bloodline and whether or not his bloodline was truly a secret.

I can buy that Dumbledore and McGonagall were privy to his familial bloodline, but anyone else? I think Snape being as unpopular as he was would have done just about anything to make certain his background was kept as secret as possible. It's been suggested that a lot of the kids sorted into Slytherin were actually half-bloods masquerading as pure-bloods to escape scrutiny or worse. This makes a lot of sense to me.

I guess the crux of our debate was whether or not Lucius knew Severus was a half-blood. I maintain that Lucius did not. I can't imagine Lucius would have had much to do with him otherwise, but then Lucius doesn't seem to mind that Voldemort isn't of pure blood.

sinick maintains that because pure-bloods are fewer in numbers than half-bloods and Muggle-borns, Lucius would be familiar with family names in conjunction with bloodlines. Goddess forbid, he would rub cocks noses with anyone of inferior status.

I must also stress that because Snape is an accomplished Occlumens, wouldn't he be able to keep his skeletons closeted? Well, maybe not from Voldemort. He, of course, is a skilled Legilimens.

Fuck, I'm confused :P

And while I'm on the subject of Snape's bloodline, there are ticky boxes to check regarding your thoughts...

[Poll #557878]

Lastly (I'm making this an essay style question :P), who might have been aware of Snape's bloodline? How did they come to find out?

--P

Comments

[malefics.livejournal.com]

First: I think that to purebloods, the only real sin is to be Muggleborn. I know that Bellatrix uses "filthy halfblood" against Harry, but she not only really really REALLY hates Harry, she's also a fanatic who will not even believe that Voldemort isn't pureblooded. Hagrid says that -all- wizards alive today are halfblood or less, and which I imagine this is taking into account lineage over time, I think there are so few Purebloods left (explaining why they're so interbred) that you couldn't possibly make a House out of them. Salazar Slytherin seems to be fine with Halfbloods, if they have the right sort of mind. I imagine that other than in pure snobbishness, most Pureblood wizards (while shuddering to themselves about someone bedding a Muggle) really don't care that much about Halfbloods. So, while I imagine Snape probably wanted to keep his father's identity secret, since his Muggle nature was on file in the library, he was unlikely to have done a great job of it. Luckily, it wasn't something the Gryffindors were likely to insult him with.

Also, I have never seen anything in canon which leads me to believe Snape was unpopular among Slytherins. He was famous throughout the entire school for his brilliance in the Dark Arts, and in Potions- his Head of House's subject. He was one of Slughorn's favorites and hang out in the same group (when he wasn't off being a loner) as Bellatrix Black and the Lestranges.

*grins* Just my two cents, since this is a fun discussion.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Now see, I didn't get that he was popular -- even in Slytherin.

I have to wonder why his housemates didn't come to his rescue when James and Sirius hung him upside down. Every wizard for himself?