MOST HEARTBREAKING AND TEAR-JERKING DEATHS I’ve ever watched/read.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE GIF.
Perhaps Hermione reminded him of Lily? I don’t mean to imply that he was attracted to Hermione, but there are similarities between her and Lily. Lily came from a muggle family, was clever*, compassionate, strong, and stood up for what she believed in. Before her friendship with Severus ended, she stood up for him and later she was counted among those who had defied Voldemort.
Another reason is Snape trusted Dumbledore just as the others did (perhaps not as wholeheartedly and fondly, but it was trust). Dumbledore always suspected Voldemort would return. How strange would it be for Snape to be fair to muggle-borns and then, later return to Voldemort’s side in his already tricky position?
Snape had been a person who was proud of his magical side and ashamed of his non-magical side based on his actions and self-proclaimed name as the half-blood Prince. We don’t know if he ever completely shook off his prejudices and we know he carried his resentment of James and Sirius for years.
I’m not saying any of this justifies his treatment of Hermione, but it’s my take on it.
*Just a side note:We don’t know if she was as clever Hermione in almost everything.
While everybody else in the Wizarding World is celebrating Voldemort’s sudden and surprising demise she is tracking down Dumbledore to see if the rumours are true, praying for the first time in thirty-five years because magic has finally failed her in a way only her father has, letting her down, letting something horrible happen to good people, people she loved.
This was so beautiful. I could feel the pain and frustration, the disbelief, the echoes of what now are only memories. I applaud you and your magical, magical words.
