controversially evil coworker

Pretending that Severus Snape, who grew up in a slum in a shitty neighborhood within a shitty city, with a shitty father and no money to even buy clothes, wouldn’t defend himself from the bullying he suffered is absurd. Severus was raised in an environment of poverty and violence, in a marginalized neighborhood—he was a kid who had probably had to defend himself before. Poor neighborhood kids don’t just take beatings; poor neighborhood kids fight back because that’s the only way to survive. And that doesn’t make them any less victims of a gang of rich kids abusing them thanks to their privileges. Just because a victim doesn’t fit your idea of learned helplessness doesn’t mean they are any less of a victim. You’re welcome.