Snape (was Motivations Pt 2.)

[flying_ford_anglia]

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No: HPFGUIDX C6587
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: Snape (was Motivations Pt 2.)
Reply To: [Yahoo! #6539] Re: Motivations, Pt 2.
Date: 8/10/00 11:23 pm  (ET)

<<But Harry, albeit innocently, by surviving and making V. discorporate,
foiled Snape's plan for his spectacular rehabilitation and heroism. Boy,
that would be frustrating!>>

I think this is the key to Snape's behaviour. A while back I posted
the theory that Snape is to Dumbledore as Wormtail is to Voldemort -
a loyal servant, who sees himself wielding power by association and
who is keen to impress his 'Master'. Having defected from the Death
Eaters, he shifts his power-seeking to Dumbledore. In PS, he tells the
students: "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper
death.." Does this reveal his own secret desires - does he want fame
and glory and perhaps the chance to cheat death?

Okay. Then, along comes Harry Potter, a mere boy with a power equal to
that of Voldemort, who is clearly the heir to the Dumbledore throne,
phoenix and worldly goods, in terms of being a protector and an equal
to the Dark Lord. Harry being at Hogwarts is a daily reminder to Snape
that his days as First Officer to Dumbledore's Captain are numbered. This
doesn't stop him from loyally obeying Dumbledore, and on several occasions
we see him exhibit unquestioning obedience to Dumbledore's instructions.

Away from Dumbledore, Snape must be bursting with resentment towards
Harry 'the hero' and anything associated with him, especially as he is
instructed by Dumbledore to protect him. His hatred of Harry spills over
into heavy penalties for Gryffindor and nasty asides to Harry's friends -
the only ways he can slave his bitterness.

All this says a lot about Dumbledore, I think. He is not as innocent
as he seems. He is less obvious about his power than Voldemort, but he
has a circle of followers himself - the 'old gang,' who include Remus,
Moody and Arabella Figg as I recall (and probably Arthur Weasley),
as well as McGonagall.

As for the 'DADA job' debate, I see this as intended to prevent Voldemort
from seeing Snape as a *completely* lost cause. He knows he has lost
him to Dumbo, but if Snape taught DADA, there would be no chance of V
accepting Snape's apparent betrayal of Dumbledore, if they wanted to
convince him Snape was a double agent.

Neil