Pondering a Snape thing

[milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 3123

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
> Something's been bothering me. Is it quite clear that when Snape 
gets
> insulted by the Marauder's Map in book 3, that he knows who Padfoot,
> Moony, Wormtail, and Prongs were? On the one hand, if he did, he 
seems
> to have let the map incident go amazingly lightly, and to have
taken 
a
> rather weak explanation from Lupin.
> 
> The reason I ask:
> 
> Snape was out cold during all the action in the Shrieking Shack when
> Peter Pettigrew was revealed. Up to the end of book 3, Snape 
honestly
> didn't know Peter Pettigrew was still alive, so while extreme, his
> actions toward Sirius were nonetheless appropriate given his 
character
> and the knowledge he possessed at the time. The excuse that he gives
> Fudge for the behavior of Harry, Hermione, and Ron I put down to an
> unusual generosity, stemming from his impending recognition,
whether 
he
> believes it or not. But he doesn't know Pettigrew is alive or that
> Sirius' tale is true.
> I wonder if Dumbledore has clarified things for him off-camera, so 
to
> speak. Pettigrew is never called anything but Wormtail, and the 
first
> mention of Wormtail in front of Snape in book 4 is when Barty Jr. 
says
> his master showed up at his door in his servant Wormtail's arms. No
> mention is made of Snape's reaction to this, which makes me wonder.
> 
> If Snape knows Wormtail is Pettigrew, this is the first we know that
> Snape must realize that Sirius was innocent and that he was in the 
wrong
> in the book 3 action. This explains to me why, when Sirius reveals
> himself at the end of book 4, Snape doesn't go running for the
> authorities or make any accusations. He hates the man, yes, and 
showe
> it, but he does *not* react like someone faced with an evil 
Voldemort
> supporter.
> 
> However, if Snape has *not* connected Wormtail with Pettigrew, why 
would
> he agree to work with Sirius Black, who he must still believe was a
> traitorous supporter of Voldmort, responsible for many deaths?
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> --Amanda

I think Snape was very much aware who Wormtail, Padfoot, Moony and 
Prongs are. Remember he told Lupin and Harry that he thought HArry
got the map straight from the manufacturers.  As for accepting Lupins
weak explanation, Snape later admitted that he didn't trust Lupin and 
was maybe still gathering evidence against him. It seems like a 
pattern with Poor Snape, he waits too long to tell Dumbledore his 
suspicions. For example in SS/PS, Snape KNEW that Quirrell was
cursing Harry's broom and even confronted him. Why didn't Snape go to 
Dumbledore with that information? But, by GoF Snape told Dumbledore 
about the Dark Mark becoming clearer (perhaps he learned his lesson
by that time?)

Yes, Snape's reaction was logical because he based it upon what his 
knowledge. However, his hatred for Lupin and Sirius sort of blinded 
him to reason. As Dumbledore told Fudge, Snape wasn't unstable: he
was very disappointed. I think Snape has a need to prove to himself 
and to others that he is indeed a "good guy". Capturing Black would 
have proved to the entire wizarding world that Snape was a hero.

I think Snape had connected that Wormtail= Pettigrew= Sirius
innocent. Perhaps not at the moment Sirius tranfigured, but maybe 
later. Afterall, a lot happened that night and it would take a while 
to absorb all of it! I think he completely realized it by the Leaving 
Feast. Harry had a difficult time reading Snape's expression when 
their eyes briefly met. 

My guess is that Snape and Sirius have great trust in Dumbledore and 
that's the basis for working together. I still think they loathe each 
other, but they know of what Voldemort is capable and that outweighs 
their mutual dislike. 

:-)Milz