This is the Property of the Half Blood Prince

Mood board. Aesthetics. Fanfics

[mostrovskaa]

worked on this little room

[deathdaydungeon]

Two up, two down

We talk about Potter as a timeless series, as quills and parchment will never date, but there are a few key elements which are of their time, and I sometimes suspect that eventually, their original meaning may be lost.

Snape’s house in Spinner’s End is one of these.  If you visit Surrey, a house akin to Number 4 on Privet Drive can be found on hundreds of identical estates.  Indeed, the three-bedroom house with a garage, and both front and back gardens, situated on a private housing estate in leafy surburbia is one that most British people will have strolled through at some point.

But Snape’s house in Spinner’s End is the opposite of the Dursleys’ aspirational abode, and is somewhere that few modern readers will have seen in its original form with their own eyes.  Snape’s house in Spinner’s End is a traditional two up, two down through terraced house, mired deep in a maze of identical cobbled streets, overlooked by a looming mill chimney, and seemingly – by the 90s – entirely abandoned.

The difficulty that some may have in accurately picturing this scene is because these houses, in this state, no longer exist.  A large percentage of two up, two down terraces were demolished as part of slum clearance, which should tell you all that you need to know about the state of the houses.  

Those which remained have been extensively modified – usually knocking down the privy (outside toilet), and then building a two storey extension across the bulk of the yard to create a third room downstairs, and a bathroom upstairs.  Some houses only have a single extension; it is rather common in some areas of the Midlands to have a bathroom that leads off the kitchen downstairs – because the bathroom was the missing room, and it was cheaper to build one storey than two.

Pottermore had an article earlier in the year which explained how the filmmakers originally wanted to film on location, but could not, because the houses simply did not exist in their traditional state.

The houses were typically constructed with two rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs with a tiny backyard entry leading to the outhouse. Craig actually considered shooting on location, but even though the buildings were intact, they had been brought into the modern era, with up-to-date kitchens and plastic extensions, so the set was built at the studio.

Throughout the 20th century, cobbled streets were routinely replaced by various other road surfaces, namely tarmac and asphalt – and, of course, the scarcity of cobblestones now means that such streets are aesthetically desirable.  However, the cobblestones in Spinner’s End are not an indication of affluence, but an indication of an area left behind. This is further illustrated by the rusted railings, the broken streetlights, and the boarded up windows.

These were workers houses, often funded by the owners of the mill, and therefore tied – meaning that rent was deducted from your wage before you received it.  There were benefits to being in tied accommodation, including being close to work and having a guaranteed landlord – but that was as much benefit to the mill owner as the worker.  Seeing great competition, some mill owners invested in their properties to entice workers – but Spinner’s End is not an example of this; Spinner’s End would’ve been regarded as little better than a slum even when fully occupied.

The narrow streets are indicative of when these houses were built, presumably in the late 1800s – cars were not a concern, and the attitude was to build as many houses on as small a piece of land as possible.

By the time the 90s roll around, and we see Narcissa and Bellatrix descend upon the street, Spinner’s End appears to be mostly deserted.  With the closure of traditional manual industries, families would be keen to relocate to where work could be found.  Estates which hadn’t already been cleared by the 60s would find themselves left to rack and ruin, their former occupants long gone – whether seeking a new life elsewhere, or having died.

For once, Bellatrix is not being anti-Muggle when she sneers at the Muggle dunghill; she is unnervingly accurate. It is a slum by her standards, but most importantly, it was a slum by everyone else’s standards as well.  By the time Severus was born, work should’ve been well under way to clear the area, or to renovate it.  This evidently did not occur – which itself explains how undesirable the area is; nobody wanted to spruce it up - they wanted to leave.  There were no jobs, no amenities, no services – and eventually, no people.

We often ponder why Snape remains at Spinner’s End, but perhaps there lies the answer; he wasn’t just hiding from the magical world, but he was also hiding from the Muggle world as well…

[equna-deactivated20180414]

It always fucks me up when people and fanfictions ignore the fact that Snape was CANONICALLY born in a slum and lived his childhood in a slum. It is a part of his character that is so rarely explored in fics. Because from young Snapes’s point of view, even the Weasleys would have looked rich. And then he had to share dorms with people like Malfoys and Blacks. It just fucks me up.

[professormcguire]

The cycle of poverty that informs Snape’s behaviour and the classism inherent in the bullying that Snape experiences at Hogwarts are endlessly fascinating to me, and something that fandom as a whole does not take into account nearly enough.  I wrote once about the potential psychology behind Snape’s decision to remain in Spinner’s End, but this visceral – and historical – reminder of exactly how desperately poor the Snapes were is important.

Americans especially don’t have a native understanding of this – for Americans, these kinds of industrial slums were largely already a thing of the past by the 1950s, when America was experiencing a post-WWII economic boom.  This is not to say that no American in the 1950s was trapped in poverty, but overall American society was made richer by the war.  British society, on the other hand, was still recovering from wartime scarcity, rationing, and destruction, and industrial slums were still very much a part of its makeup.

The Snapes were poor in a way from which it was virtually impossible to escape.  The Snapes were not poor like the Weasleys, who are poor by wizarding standards but never go hungry and never live in literal filth.  The Snapes are poor by Muggles standards, by post-WWII Britain standards, by anyone’s standards.  The Snapes were the kind of poor that seeps into your pores at the earliest age and never leaves.  The kind of poor that informs almost everything about Snape, from his idolization of magical society, to the way he deals with social humiliation, to his arrogant rage masking a deep-seated self-hatred, and especially to his resentment of popular, loved, pampered, wealthy James Potter.

[solenyasasquatch]

I saw a post a few months ago that talked about how Snape going to Hogwarts was almost analogous to a poor kid in the UK getting a scholarship in a really fancy public school (like Eton) due to his intelligence but then gets bullied by the richer kids because he’s not one of them. It is a comparison that I found very interesting because of course in some of these private schools kids can get scholarships and stuff but they never truly belong in that same social circle, i.e. they would never go on nice fancy holidays or school trips etc. It is certainly an interesting mirror of Snape always seemed to struggle fitting in Hogwarts due to his poverty and I feel like its something thats very specific to the British social class system

[mollymcgiftens-deactivated20200]

This is very true. My partner was one. He was sufficiently impressive at primary school to be scholarshiped into the posh private school. He was even moved up a year as he was truly gifted. And it was unmitigated hell for him. Kids he grew up with shunned him as a class traitor, for putting on airs, for trying to advance out of a fairly shabby area. The kids at his school? Shunned him for being a jumped up oik reaching above his station. He was never one of them in their eyes. Despite his intelligence he did not go on the tertiary education. He was so beaten down by the expectations foisted on him and the social exclusion it entailed he went straight off to get a job as soon as he could. These are the ways that the classist segregation in the UK in the 1970s and 80s worked. I imagine they still work like that now. Severus would very much be in the same state of “crab bucket” but even worse because he cannot talk about his school, or his achievements. Middle class Lily going to a school for the gifted? Wouldn’t raise an eyebrow with the neighborhood gossips. Snape the gutter snipe going to a boarding school? The curtains wouldn’t stop twitching over it. And most of the people on his street would actively want him to fail. That lie about St Brutus secure school for the incorrigible would have been far more feasible and acceptable to the residents of Spinner’s End. It would satisfy their resentment of him “rising above” his natural station and confirm their prejudice that he’d come to a bad end. There is still a huge prejudice around poverty, the very concept of worthy and unworthy poor still permeates the media, any articles about poverty and the benefits system will be riddled with these underlying assumptions that the really poor, the most desperate and least likely to ever get out of the grinding poverty, have brought it upon themselves. They are often painted as deserving their misery. Severus position straddling both worlds but belonging to neither, not being welcomed on either side of the divide is truly one of the most resonant aspects of his character to me.

[deathdaydungeon]

You only have to look at George Osborne being given the nickname ‘oik’ in his days in the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University, for the crime of going to the third poshest school in the country (St Paul’s, rather than Eton or Harrow) and for his father being ‘in trade’.  His father, of course, founded Osborne & Little - and as the wikipedia article cites, Osborne holds a 15% stake in it, worth between £15m - £30m.

Indeed, you don’t have to go as far as public school for this to be true; Snape is of the grammar school era.  Snape is the kid who comes from the sink estate who passes his 11+ entrance exam against all odds.  When he reaches the school, where he’s fairly earned his place on intellectual merit (or in Hogwarts’ case, magical ability), he sticks out like a sore thumb.  He has the aptitude, but not the social background.

It’s why the depiction of James is equally important.  He’s similar to Snape in his magical ability - but he’s got the background that Snape hasn’t.  He’s wealthy, pampered, entitled.  James meets Snape and simply can’t comprehend why such a boy is also at the same school - remember, he meets Sirius at the same time, who also states that he’s from a Slytherin background and James’ reaction isn’t quite the same as it is with Snape.  “Blimey, and I thought you were all right.”  (or similar)  James had already made that value judgement; he’d already recognised that Sirius is from a similar sort of background.

When their journeys start, both boys are brimming with confidence (remember how Harry saw Snape by the river as cutting an impressive figure), but it doesn’t take long for James to be the boy who is regarded as popular, sporty, talented etc whilst Snape visibly wilts.  He’s twitchy, anxious, an oddball…as the text says, it’s as if he’s a plant kept in the dark.

Indeed, it’s no mistake that James - and in the modern era, Draco - is talented on a broom.  It’s no mistake that Harry, as a toddler, is given a broom.  It’s no mistake that the Weasley family are all talented with broom in hand, their prowess at Quidditch undeniable.  It’s no mistake then, that Snape picks up a broom and fails - some will claim it’s talent, but we see him mastering flight as an adult…it feels to me that this is a very clear indication that Snape wasn’t given the same opportunities.  He got to the school, but he didn’t have the extra-curricular assistance that others had the benefit of.  

There is a very important parallel that James and Sirius don’t accept Severus because Severus’ background makes him other - just as the Death Eaters and their ilk don’t accept Lily because Lily’s bloodline makes her other.

Snape succeeds against the odds - and what’s wholly tragic about the entire thing is that he succeeds against the odds because he’s a tool in the war.  He doesn’t become a professor, or a housemaster, or headmaster on merit.  He succeeds because he’s being used.  

[deathdaydungeon]

Saw this article on Moss Side in Manchester on BBC News, which feels pertinent to this discussion:

There was a rise in poverty in the whole of the North West in the 1970s, as a lot of jobs moved to London and old industries began to disappear.

A programme of “slum clearance” took place, where lots of working class people’s houses in the area were demolished.

“This forces people who are very happy to be in a place like Moss Side into different suburbs, away from their networks, churches, extended families and friends.

“So you see a very sudden rupture of strong communities,” says Dr Wildman.

I think a lot about the Cokeworth that Eileen Prince moved to when she first encountered the Muggle world, and the one her son was left with when he had sole occupancy of the family home in the 90s.  

[punkneeter]

This is why it is important to focus on the fact that James never hated Snape because he came from a muggle background or to a certain extent that Snape was more intellectually and magically gifted than James. James Potter didn’t like Snape because he was dirt poor. The same prejudice that other pureblood families like the Malfoys have is the exact same prejudice that James has. It is simply just another facet to the same problem.

James has this certain ideology to how his life should be: great at quidditch, smart, handsome, and popular. This was created by how he was raised, the privilege that surrounds him, and the intake of all social media that’s been fed to him (while he might not believe that muggles or muggleborns are bad or should be seen as lesser than purebloods, he must have been exposed to people who did.) This of course depends on how it effected his morality- which in some cases may seem questionable- which in returns effects how he perceives the world. This little exposure is all it takes for a seed to grow and James then directs it towards Snape which is easy enough because everyone else joins in for the fun and to laugh at the poor, slimy Slytherin getting pranked. Here, James is systematically putting Snape in his place. By using the school’s prejudice about houses allows, justifies, and can sometimes amplify James to continue with his bullying.

Additionally, while he might not think so, James is inherently an elitist. You can argue that he wasn’t, but by simply being raised as he was, regardless of how he is percreived or how he percieved himself, he was born into privilege. He might have been friends with a werewolf (a dark creature that suffers from social stratification; i.e. the high cost of wolfsbane potion), a fellow Gryffindor (who comes from a dark family and is constantly used to justify that all Slytherins are bad regardless if they were given a choice to be in Slytherin because Black chose not to be), and might have married a muggleborn (who is systematically below other wizards simply because they don’t have pure blood- they have dirty blood), but the way he interacts and bullies Snape supports the fact that he is as prejudice as other pureblood families.

Snape with his greasy hair, lanky frame, and second hand used robes and books fits a certain class. Snape’s not just lower class. As shown up above by other users, he lives in a state of poverty that is different than the working class that most people mistake him and his family with. Given where he stands both in the muggle world and in the wizarding one, someone like him shouldn’t be allowed in a posh boarding school like Hogwarts. But he is, and he is gifted.

This goes against James ideology of how socioeconomic works. To simply put it, it is a matter of mathematics. James has a great deal more money than Snape; therefore, he should be better than him in everyway. People should flock to James simply because he’s rich and handsome and overall talented. But then the status quo is challenged by Snape ( who despite his lesser up bringing is a powerful and gifted student) and (where it really hurts) Lily who doesn’t find him all that great. We can see this clearly with Draco and with Harry. Simply being wealthier and probably more knowledgeable about magic, Draco seems from an outsider perspective like a more ideal friend than Ron, but Harry still refuses his hand in friendship, and Draco cannot possibly understand why. Ron is beneath him (which is demonstrated by how he mocks and ridicules Ron upon first meeting him). While Harry is muggle raised and didn’t know that he had money until a few days ago, he is Harry Potter- the boy who lived. There is a certain entitlement to it as there isn’t a wizarding child who doesn’t know his name. As such, it would make sense for him to be friends with Draco, but he doesn’t. He effectively breaks this ideology that the rich have made. This is why Draco acts so hostile to all of them, not just to Ron or to Harry, but even Hermione. This is the exact same reason that James has such a problem with Snape. Had Lily not been beautiful and if he didn’t have his heart set on her, he might even have treated her the same way.

[themasterofpotions]

Marauders British Bake Off Au.

-Dumbledore and Mcgonagall are the judges.

-Dumbledore wears weird clothing with odd combinations of pieces

-he silently judges the contestants choices of techniques or flavors, but offers smiles when he's pleased

-Mcgonagall is more like Paul and not as easy to please

-her technicals are a lot more difficult but not impossible.

-None of the marauders knew each other before the show, but they got on pretty well.

-They make jokes often and playfully criticize each other's methods or flavors.

-Black is very good at chocolate work and he makes rather extravagant flavors that you don't think would work but do (not always though. Sometimes he does a bit too much)

-his pipping is actually very neat, but he gets easily distracted by whatever the rest of the marauders are doing

-hes had a few problems before with his cakes, but he's the first one to get a handshake from Mcgonagall and he rubs it in everyone's faces

-during the judging period of the technical he either tries to joke with James or walk around in circles from nerves

-james is straight rubbish at tarts and some pastries

-his scones and breads are absolutely lovely however

-he gets a bit quiet when things get tough and doesn't take to coming in last very well

-he often jokes with Sirius, but he sometimes makes his way to Lily's station when he can to flirt

-but whenever his mates need an extra hand at toppings or layering heavy cakes, he's always the first one to offer help

-Remus is pretty decent at chocolate work as well and has unique flavors once in a while

-but he typically sticks to more traditional and simple flavors which he's often told to work better at since he plays it a little too safe

-he then starts to work with coffee and tea like flavors which he receives good compliments

-his things are baked just, but his measurements are a bit disporting which has led him in last or close to last a couple of times

-he was one of the few that people thought would be sent home, but he saved himself in the last minute with his chocolate souffle

-he does rise up as an underdog and wins star baker twice

-Lily and Severus also bond since their stations are close to each other. They also learn that they live near each other and have tea and coffee off the show

-Lily is a very good baker on her own, but sometimes she sneaks glances behind her to see what Severus is doing

-Her baking comes out very good, but sometimes it lacks flavor

-her decorating is very creative and beautifully done

-she takes the criticism well but also very personally. She spends a lot of time at home practicing and reading new recipes and techniques to become better prepared

-it eventually pays off and she meets the semifinals with her family's recipes of jams and cakes

-she often gets a bit annoyed at James but it's mostly in jest unless she's freaking out from the pressure

-Severus is more precise with his measurements and he rarely has a problem with his baking

-hes the most experience baker which is surprising since he doesn't look like he would be

-he still a chemistry teacher and his students are actually cheering him on during the week which surprises him

-he often says his students will never let him live it down if he loses so he works hard for himself and for spite

-his decorating could use some work, but he does well with fruit decorating since he's very good with a knife

-he doesn't do much sweet baking and tends to do more savoury and rustic flavors with herbs from his personal garden

-his flavors a very good and can sometime seem like they wouldn't work like Black's, but they're a bit more reasonable and simple

-however he's done well with more delicate bits, and his macarons are just perfect

- he does some practice at home but with lessons and grading, he doesn't have as much time as he likes.

-he is almost sent home when his fruit tart wasn't set correctly and it became a bit raw at the crust

-he distance himself from others most of the time since he doesn't like distraction besides Lily and occasionally Remus

-but during the judging he walks around towards the gardens to calm himself

[themasterofpotions]

[themasterofpotions]

[themasterofpotions]

[themasterofpotions]

[themasterofpotions]

- June 1992 - Severus did not intend to visit Potter in the infirmary.

But as he made his way to deliver Madam Pomfrey’s freshly brewed potions, he found himself standing in front of a closed curtain bed where the only patient in the Medical Wing was surely resting from the incident that happened not even two nights before. A large pile of cards, gifts, and candy were stacked on top of the table beside the bed- no doubt from his many, many fans.

There was no urge to pull the curtain and see with his own eyes the damages that Potter had suffered when acquiring the Philosopher’s stone. Severus was sure that he can imagine quite clearly the destruction that he must have caused and the wounds that he had received and now suffer. 

There were no words to describe the rage he felt when he had discovered along with the rest of the teachers just what Potter and his insolent friends had done. 

The gall of them to sneak away at night to find and steal one of the most valuable and protected artifacts in the Wizarding World was unbelievable. The entire situation was a disaster no matter how many times Severus evaluated it. 

One student, Mr. Weasley, had suffered grave injuries that were only healed by magical means and was brought to the medical wing by the sheer power of one first-year student. It was noteworthy on Ms. Granger’s part, but she thought it would be better to send a letter to the Headmaster first before brining Mr. Weasley to Madam Pomfrey or any other teacher in the vicinity. 

If the situation was not already more serious than it already was, the nerve of all of them to allow Potter to continue alone, without consulting a professor of their schemes until it was far too late, was by far the most troubling thing of them all.

By the time that they had found him, Headmaster Dumbledore was already tending to Potter, who was passed out on the floor with his scar bleeding red and the noticeable stone in his hand. Beside him stood ash and the remnants of Professor Quirrell’s clothes. 

It was a wonder that Potter had survived that night at all. And while Professor Dumbledore was rather tight-lipped about it, no one knows what exactly happened that night.  Severus suspects that the Headmaster will let him know with minimal detail about what had occurred. Of course, that was only if he deemed it necessary for him to know. That was, however, unlikely if he was lucky.

Yet, no matter what splendid tale of heroics and bravery that the Headmaster spieled will not amuse the Ministry. He knew very well that the Board of Education will be sending more than just a couple of words to the school as soon as the students leave later this week. He was not sure how the Headmaster will get out of this one, but he knew that he would despite the Ministry’s best efforts. He could only imagine how the media will take it if they found out that Potter had another moment of heroics. 

Severus felt his mouth snarl in disgust as he dropped off the potions and made his way back to his quarters. The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly will surely have a field day when they get wind of the situation. The castle was already filled with gossip. Rumors flew across the halls as soon as word got out that Potter was in the infirmary for unknown reasons. As soon as these loudmouth-brats leave,  it will eventually be front-page news for the next upcoming days given just how much the Wizarding World absolutely adores the Boy-Who-Lived. That was probably Dumbledore’s grand plan. The Ministry would definitely be pressured to leave well enough alone if Dumbledore played his cards right- at no cost to Potter.

Any mention of his name was scarfed down hungrily like wild dogs, as if the public was gossiped starved of their favorite wizard. The boy had become a celebrity the day he defeated the Dark Lord and if he so much as picks up a fork, his fan club will start a riot. 

It did not please Severus in the least for the future and he was soon pouring himself a glass of wine from his simple collection that he had obtained over the years when he had returned to his quarters.

With a wave of his hand, books and other objects were magicked into his suitcases and he watched with a small amount of interest. 

Severus found himself running out of time to prepare for his end of the year leave since he was far to busy following Quirrell around the castle under the Headmaster’s orders. With the blasted man gone and Potter unconscious in the medical wing, he finally had time to pack his things for the summer. The house-elves will eventually take his things to his home at Spinner’s End once he was done packing. 

As he sipped his wine, a large leather-bound book flew across the room and was settled neatly amongst his other things. 

For a moment, Severus was quite curious at the book until recognition had replaced it. With a flick of his wrist, all movement stopped and he took long strides to grab the book in question. It was the photo albums that he had found in Godric Hallow. It was the day that Lily had died; the day that Potter had died; the day the Dark Lord was defeated. The small little house that once held a loving family was nothing but ruins now, forgotten and abandoned. 

Upon hearing Black’s arrival, Severus fled the scene and made haste to reach Dumbledore before anything else could happen that night.  Harry was eventually found and sent away by Headmaster Dumbledore to who knows where.

When matters were settled and the Wizarding World was celebrating like there was no morrow, Severus had found himself walking back to that small cottage and stared at the destruction that was left behind. There was barely anything salvageable. 

There were only a few things that he found worth keeping: the photo album (that was barely filled with any pictures- he was sure that they had planned to fill it with Potter’s every waking moment), letters that both Lily and Potter had written, and the Potter’s family cat that had remained alive after all of its owners were long gone.

He had found the cat hidden away in the back, searching along the fallen walls and furniture, calling for its owners. Since that night, he was sure that it had not eaten or drunk anything since. Unable to do anything else, Severus had decided to take it home where it had lived with him up until three years ago when it had died of old age. 

After everything, the Wizard world had a party that lasted months, up until the new year. But along with the Dark Lord’s fall, came the trials of the First War. 

He was suspected of course and had found himself in Azkaban for four days before he was released. Dumbledore had fought for his innocence and had miraculously won his case. He had never been more thankful to the man whom he has sure despised him at the time. 

Yet, even with his sentence cleared, the Wizarding World had been keeping up to date with the news and he found himself struggling to find a job. The Dark Mark was a brand for something terrible and cursed and nobody wanted any part of it. And while he hates it incredibly, Professor Dumbledore had given him a job, as not only to keep an eye on him, but for him to be ready for his beck and call when he needed his spy once again.

He had kept the letters and they are safely stored away in his home in his grandfather’s cigar box that was left to him, unwilling, by his father.

The album, however, was quite different. Severus has only opened it a few times over the course of the years, watching the young faces of Lily and James Potter laughing and moving with no idea of the future or their demise.

It was sickening to watch the ghost-like figures move and he could barely look at it. But when he was feeling particularly regretful and overall disgusted with his well-being on Halloween, Severus would pour himself some wine or firewhisky and he would watch the pictures move. He tortured himself in a way, reminding himself of his deeds and the misfortune that they had caused.

He had wanted to get rid of it many times, contemplating of throwing it away into the flames of the fire, but he never did. The Potters had not left much behind and he felt that he owed it to them to give it to Harry when he finally came to Hogwarts.  

With a sigh, Severus made his way across the room and opened a small book. Inside was a dried daisy- the same daisy that Lily had given him the day they first met- and a couple of photos. 

Severus never took pictures with Lily except for one that was now lost. The two that he had were of Lily when she was young and in school. 

In both photos, she smiled brightly and waved happily back at him. He traced the folds and creases on the photos that have formed over the years before making a copy of them both and placing the originals in the album. With a sigh, he wrote a brief note and had sent one of the elves to deliver it to Hagrid. He was sure that the half-giant will be able to give it to Potter just fine. 

[themasterofpotions]

I remember her with everything that I do, with everything that I am. She is around me, always.

[themasterofpotions]

"I will be cunning. Ruthless. Brutal."