What I take from that quote is that Snape is capable of being attracted to anyone, which I consider standard operating procedure for humans in general. Although I admit I could be projecting because personally I find myself capable of attraction to anyone, so isn't everyone else, too? ;) But this...
anybody who is capable of understanding and empathizing with them is certainly a possible romantic interest
...is how I would define attraction in general, whether sex enters the equation or not, and regardless of past abuse. Humans crave connection, and we tend to form strong bonds where we find it.
If we're talking specifically about Snape, though, I always thought that he seemed to eschew any sort of meaningful connection with others. He seems pretty damaged as far as relating to fellow humans. Even his "love" for Lily feels more like love for an ideal than a person. Of course, this is just the way I always interpreted his character, and certainly we see all this through the lens of Harry's POV, so YMMV.
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What I take from that quote is that Snape is capable of being attracted to anyone, which I consider standard operating procedure for humans in general. Although I admit I could be projecting because personally I find myself capable of attraction to anyone, so isn't everyone else, too? ;) But this...
anybody who is capable of understanding and empathizing with them is certainly a possible romantic interest
...is how I would define attraction in general, whether sex enters the equation or not, and regardless of past abuse. Humans crave connection, and we tend to form strong bonds where we find it.
If we're talking specifically about Snape, though, I always thought that he seemed to eschew any sort of meaningful connection with others. He seems pretty damaged as far as relating to fellow humans. Even his "love" for Lily feels more like love for an ideal than a person. Of course, this is just the way I always interpreted his character, and certainly we see all this through the lens of Harry's POV, so YMMV.