There were some really good comments on my first thread:

Is love enough of a reason?

So I thought I'd try a followup.

If Lily would have returned Snapes love, or Snape had loved someone else that returned his love, what do you think would have been different?

Would he have joined Voldemort?

Would his cruelty and bullying still have been there?

Snape as a father?

Would he taken more care in his appearance?

Would he sing, would he dance?

1. I think not, he probably would have been persuaded by Lily not to.
2. Yes, but not completely. His bitterness didnt just come from losing Lily. It was also because of his abusive family.
3. As a dad? Eek! Hard to imagine... I don't think they would have kids. If so, it would be a strictly-disciplined boy.
4. He might, but he'd still probably just dress in neutral, dark colors.
5. He would sing (maybe deeply), but for dancing: maybe he'd waltz.

If Lily had returned his love I don't think he would have gone to the dark side. After all he did it to try and impress her and win her over. She was a good girl and he new that she wanted someone good. He wouldn't have been bitter and mean. I think he would have been a wonderful father, maybe a bit strict. I don't know about singing, but dancing, Oh yes, he would dance. His appearance would definatley been better. He would have been well groomed for his true love.

Snape was sort of a troubled kid and i don't think he really knew who he was most of the time. I think he would've joined Voldemort anyways but would've been alot softer. I always think about how she sould've cared more for Snape. His life is so sad and troubled half the time he wasn't caring because he was thinking of Lily.

i think snape would have been married to someone other than lily but i am not sure who:/.i think after he got married he would never have turnded bad(but he really wasn't bad ever).i dont think of him as a father or mabey just kid and i think he couldn't have been so crabby all the time

Lily DID love Snape, he broke her heart. That day down by the lake, when he called her a Mudblood out of frustration. The title of the chapter is "Snape's Worst Memory," initially I and many others thought that this was because of Sirius and James' teasing, but Snape dealt with that on a daily basis. Once JKR revealed that Snape loved Lily I saw that Snape knew he had lost her from that moment forward and that is why that is his worst memory. The destruction of the relationship, the love, he valued the most all gone with one careless word.

No, with Lily in his life he could not have become the Deatheater/double agent we knew him as.

I have a feeling that Snape was more mellow and less a bully before Harry's arrival at Hogwarts. Were he to have married Lily, the point would have been moot, as Harry would not exist.

I think Snape would have been a excellent father. To carry love in his heart for so many years after the death of his Beloved speaks of great loyalty and commitment, things essential to fatherhood.

He might have grown out of his poor bathing habits as many young men do, but with no desire to find the love of another he did not see the point in cleaning up, I think. Perhaps he used it as a barrier to keep people out?

Some people are just not meant to sing or dance even in great joy, I think Snape is one of them.

I think that Snape would have been a much more amicable man. I think he would have had a great interest in obscure magics. I think that his fascination with the Dark Arts in school merely came from the fact that they touted the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. He would not be a cruel but he would be very strict and organized. Their child or children would be well disciplined but they would also be very good natured and friendly. I think they would be a bit like Hermione. She's got lots of discipline but she's a great friend and is very loyal. I belive that Snape would be a good deal cleaner and more happy. As far as singing and dancing goes...I think he probably would.

No I don't think Snape would have joined Voldemort. I think perhaps the only reason he got into the Dark Arts at school was for power. I mean, people had walked all over him his whole life, so it's understandable. Having Lily would not only make him happier, but soothe his ego.

I think he would've still been reserved, but not malicious.

It's very hard for me to imagine Snape with a child. I think he would've been strict because he values self-discipline. He would make sure they kept their grades up. I don't think he'd be the open father in the world, but he would definitely love his kid.

Definitely think he would've taken more care of his appearance. I agree with The Cursed Erkling about using his appearance to distance himself from others.

As for singing and dancing...no. I just can't see that. Maybe humming. Humming would work.

I agree with The Cursed Erkling, Lilly did love Snape and he broke her heart the day that he called her a 'Mudblood'. Why else would she put up with his Dark side? His own heartache is caused by his regret of that moment, and of him handing Voldemort the information about the prophecy.

Had Snape found a loving relationship he most likely wouldn't have become a Death Eater. I think that for Snape Voldemort has that Dark glory, a chance to explore magic in a way that he never could have at school and the chance to have a subsitute family in which he could play an important and powerful role. If Snape had Lilly, he wouldn't need Voldemort.

The bullying and cruelty come from a combination of being the victim of his father and school bullys (including James and Sirius) and the bitterness of losing Lilly. If he had managed to come to terms with losing her he would have been a very different person. She seems to be the only positive person in Snape's young life.

Snape as a father... hmm that's tricky. Most likely he would be strict, instil a sense of self discipline and a sense of ethics on how to treat others.

I tend to think that Snape has been cursed with the hair type that always seems greasy, no matter how recently washed. The fact that he is an expert poitioneer and should be able to sort it quiet quickly and simply shows that he is unconcerned with his appearance, either because he thinks it is unimportant or (as others have suggested) he uses it as a way to distance himself from other people.

When it comes to singing and dancing, I just can't see it happening. Possibly tapping his foot in time with the music. Maybe.

i think there's a few different things that need to be taken into consideration here:

firstly, there are references to snape's father being a very cruel, somewhat anti-wizarding man. i think from a very early age, severus was sort of inclined to want to punish the muggle that punished him; and this is before love of a woman even entered the equation.

secondly, from an early age, severus showed a natural inclination towards the dark arts. he was fascinated by them. i think that this early fascination w/ the dark arts would've led him towards Voldemort no matter who or what he could've been redeemed by.

also, i think it's important to remember that before snape knew lily and james were in love, her friendship still didn't save him from becoming a death eater. he was already on that path, and if anything, lily was the only thing that even remotely redeemed him. that said, he still made a clear decision and understood that there would always be consequences to pay, no matter what love he did or didn't find.

I'm not so sure that Snape would have been a strict father. He let Malfoy get away with quite a bit. He may have been very doting, trying to be the opposite of his father.

I think Lily would have made him happy so he wouldnt go over tho Voldemorts side. He probably would have been better groomed and nicer too.

I mean maybe if lily had loved him in return he might have stopped his evil but if he had married someone else he would have still loved lily and still have been evil especially if his lover was with voldie as well

who knows what could have happened if lily returned snapes love because if that happened harry wouldnt have been born so voldermort wouldnt hav lost his power so anything is possible

If Lily would have returned Snapes love, or Snape had loved someone else that returned his love, what do you think would have been different?
Snape would have been a lot more cheery and maybe a bit boastful.
But idk because it would ruin the whole book if lily got with snape.
I mean we need Harry and James.

Would he have joined Voldemort?
I very much doubt he ever would.
Snape is much more intelligent than that.

Would his cruelty and bullying still have been there?
Snape, i believe, was never really cruel or a bully.
He was just jealous of james because james got the girl and the award and snape got nothing.
It's perfectly understandable, and that's why snape earns my respect at the end of Deathly Hollows.

Snape as a father?
Very strict but i think he would still be sweet. Of course he would want a slytherin son/girl

Would he taken more care in his appearance?
His appereance suits his personality.
It's dark and mysterious with a bit of an edge.
But he might've.

Would he sing, would he dance?
No

I disagree with both of these. While they were still good friends, Snape was already gravitating towards the dark arts and hanging out with future death eaters. He was also showing blood prejudice and was using spells to punish. Before any hope of more with Lily was extinguished. This is what turned her away. Their differing personalities made it inevitable.

I think if Lily had returned Snape's love, she could have pulled Snape farther from the Dark Arts, so he would not join Voldemort. I don't think Snape himself was cruel, just his friends. He was mean to Harry, but that was all, and he didn't use dark magic on Harry or anything, he just found excuses to dock points from Gryffindor. I suppose if Lily had returned Snape's love, he would have been more accepting, and slowly break away from his Death Eater friends. I'd like to think that. Snape as a father...I guess he'd be strict, but love his children because he was able to be with someone he loved. He would have made more of an effort on his appearance, I guess. Singing and dancing...no. But that's why I like Snape =)

Would he have joined Voldemort?
It's possible that he might have still joined Voldemort. Dumbledore may have asked him to play the part of a double agent as he did in the books, although he probably wouldn't have been very convincing with Lily as his love.

Would his cruelty and bullying still have been there?
Cruelty and bullying might possibly have stuck around, although not as extreme thanks to Lily. He was bullied and mistreated as a child, and that would probably result in his bullying others when he's older. I imagine he'd be nicer to some extent, though.

Snape as a father?
Something about the way he was portrayed in the books tells me that he and Lily would never have children. But then again, that's because he was such a bully. Maybe if he and Lily did have children, he would pretty close to what Harry is like in terms of behavior and morals.

Would he taken more care in his appearance?
Even when Lily was alive and the two were close friends, he didn't care much about his appearance. So if he and Lily did end up together, I can't see any reason why he would take more care in his appearance, seeing as he's already gotten his dream girl. Although, there's a chance he would be more careful at Lily's urging.

Would he sing, would he dance?
I think of him to be sort of reluctant to do such things, but Lily is the opposite. I can imagine her trying to persuade Snape to sing and dance with her and succeeding in making him join in singing off-key and stepping on her feet with a red face from laughing and protesting.

If Lily had returned his love, he probably would be less tempted to join the dark side. However, I believe the dark would still be there. He started hanging around Avery and Muliber when he was friends with Lily. Lily and Snape were such opposites. Snape probably would be nicer and less mean if he was with Lily but I doubt it would completely leave him. That hatred stems back to his youth when his parents would argue.

If Lily would have returned Snape's love, or Snape had loved someone else that returned his love, what do you think would have been different?

I don't think Snape ever even entertained the notion of loving somebody other than Lily. She was the only person he ever cared about, and I think that because Lily was there for him when he was having rough times with his parents, that strengthened their bond. In my opinion Lily never loved Snape as a lover, rather as a brother-but the fact that he spat "Mudblood" at her, even in those circumstances, was the straw that broke the camel's back. After all, Lily herself said, "You call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?" Also, because the Maradeurs completely tarnished his reputation in school, no girls liked him at Hogwarts, so even if he'd wanted to (which he never did), he couldn't have gotten a date. Lily and Snape bonded because they were both outcasts of sorts - he was outcast from his family, and Lily was rejected by Petunia out of sheer jealousy.

Would he have joined Voldemort?

No, I don't believe so. If Lily and Severus had ended up together (much to James' dissapointment, I'm sure!) , then he would do almost anything for her. The pair would probably have joined The Order of the Phoenix, and remained under Dumbledore's protection, and would have focused on fightign Voldemort. The prophecy would then be in regard to Neville, and Neville only, because Harry would simply be non-existant. James was quite popular, and he would have, in time, found someone to fall in love with, and maybe even marry. Personally, I believe Snape deserved Lily more than James, and if she had really cared about Severus, then she wouldn't have let their friendship deteriorate over one remark said in the heat of the moment. I'm sure Snape would have come up with something to make it up to her. Also, it shows how much he respected her, because after the incident by the lake, Snape (the little Potions master) could have easily brewed up and slipped Lily a love potion to change the way she felt about him.

Snape as a father?
I imagine Snape as a caring, doting father. He would try to give his child(ren) the kind of childhood he never had, and he would focus all his energy into making sure that they belonged, and were not outcasts (unlike he was, in his youth). Snape would make sure they were good students, and would write to Hogwarts regularly. If he were lucky enough to get Lily to forgive him, I'm sure her genes would prevail, as they did with Harry, and Severus would get endless pleasure looking into his children's big green eyes.

Snape would've made a great but extremely strict father

He would've Probably looked the same

I think Lily, after a lot of work and persuasion, would have eventually opened Snape's heart enough to make him see that he didn't need to follow Voldemort and that he could absolutely be loved and cared and love and care others. However, I am a little worried about what Voldy would do if he learned about their marriage...

Snape would have joined the deatheaters no matter what, otherwise Lily would have persuaded him to give it up at school. She tried over the years, we saw that in Snapes memories. He didn't even give it up when she told him, she had had enough.
Lily and Snape could have ended up together, JK said so in the Bloomsbury chat. But only if he had given up on Voldemort.
Snape as a father? That's a tough one. I suppose if he had been softened up enough to give up his dark dreams he might have been able to make a good father.

Ya there is no doubt about that Severus wouldve joined the DeathEaters Either other way...

I think snape would have been a lot kinder and wouldnt have joined Voldemort. I think Lilly would have made him into a nicer person but still not really nice. I think he wouldn't have been as good as James but he would be an ok father! Snape would probably have tken more care in his appearance and maybe had a haircut. No I don't think he would sing but he might dance for Lilly!