Snape's Background

I have other posts that I've been trying to digest and comment on, but this one stole my attention for the moment.
Maybe JK had put these particular memories of Snape's in because they show Snape's human side. It allows us a chance to think "oh, I see" and maybe even feel a little sorry for him. But it's also showing us some rather vivid parallels between Snape and Harry.
In Snape's memory of his parents, Dad raged and Mom cowered; in Harry's his mom threw her herself in the face of danger at risk of her life.
In Snape's memory, he struggled with a bucking broomstick and was rewarded with mocking laughter; Harry fought a bucking broomstick and was applauded, patted on the back for his ability to cope.
Maybe it doesn't mean what I think it means, but it sure looks like Snape is holding onto memories that smack of contrast between himself and Harry. Fuel for the fire, so to speak. I don't know if Snape is feeling any sense of injustice at these, like he resents that Harry's mom was brave where his was a coward, or if he's playing these up to intensify an emotion he needs for another issue (see Snape the Death Stopper for more on that issue). Any thoughts?

Thank you.
That's sort-of where I was going.

Yes, I think your absolutely right to say it's to make Snape more human. That's exactly what it does. For me at least. And they are great parallels to Harry.

That would have been Sirius in book 4, when Harry, Ron and Hermione visit him at the cave. Sirius was wondering why it was that Dumbledore had hired Snape. Possibly Snape learned well before he started school that he had a measure of control over his magic and started picking up dark arts stuff, but surely he would have to have someone to show/ teach him how to do it. It wasn't like it was going to come as a surprise that he was a wizard - he knew his Mum was - it was different to Voldemort and Harry's discoveries at age 11.

Maybe Snape learned some from just watching some one else. Or just figured some of it out.
Also,Tom sort of knew that he was gifted though. I mean he didn't know he was a wizard but he still knew that their where things that no one else in his place could do.

But didn't Harry feel different as well when he had no idea of who he was? I think that the whole feeling different thing is because you subconciously know you are a wizard, but don't really know, ya kno.

I think that it does make sense that Snape's memories were used to make Snape seem more human.
He certainly needs that!

Just read what they were in book 3 when Harry was staying at the Leaky Cauldron. Rowling says that Gobstones are a wizarding game rathe rlike marbles. However, the stones squirted a nasty-smelling liquid into the other player's face when they lost a point. Harry saw a set of gold ones which he had to convince himself not to buy. We know that Percy left a set at Hogwarts the following Christmas... and that there was a girl in the fifth book who turned down an offer to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team because of her commitment to to Gobstone club.

Thanks. I guess that's all we can know.
I was hoping for a clue there, like does it take any special talent...

So was I... though the lack of talent required might tell us something. At first I thought it might have been a game for "squares" - I want a better word there... but then I was called a square during my time at school - even though we never have much indication that Hermione plays it. I mean, that Percy had a set sort of gave me that idea. But then when Harry had considered buying a set I gave up that line of thought - Harry is nothing like Percy.

Made mention of this on another Snape thread, but I'll mention it here 'cause it might be relevant. In book six, in the chapter "The Seer Overheard" Dumbledore says that after Snape realized how Voldemort had taken the prophecy he returned to the good side. Returned? When was he on the good side before that? Maybe his mother was an ardent supporter of the good side but Snape rebelled soon after he came to school. Any thoughts?