All things Snape plus Harry (pt 1)

[gwendolyngrace]

No: HPFGUIDX 31100

Koinonia posted some spiffy comments on my Snape dissertation, and
some of her points beg my explanations/clarifications/rebuttals. So:

K:
> I do believe that Snape could go back to being a spy. That was the
> very first thing I thought of at the end of GoF. Dumbledore was
> apprehensive and I believe it was because Snape was going somewhere
> that put him in danger.
>

Yes! It's not only *Snape's* blanching that suggests danger, it's
Dumbledore's own anxiety in this scene that is telling.

K:
> I just have a bit of a
> problem believing that Snape actually committed murder or tortured
> anyone.  Regardless of why he left the DE's, surely Dumbledore would
> never hire a past murderer to teach young kids. I guess I'm hoping
> that Snape was truly unaware of what he was joining.

Let me clarify here a bit. First off, I am not saying he understood
the full implications of joining V at the time. Clearly, I could not
believe that, since I think that it was only *after* he had been party
to their activities that he realized he'd made a mistake. However, I
do think that he bought the party line in his desire to be part of the
cult, and thus probably did participate in an effort to fit in and/or
rise in the ranks. And I have no problem with Dumbledore taking him on
as a sort of rehab/community service project. Actually, it feels like
a very Albus thing to do. I think this is one instance where Sirius
does misinform the kids and the audience by not understanding all the
facts. Not his fault, mind. :^)

K:
> I think he didn't stake a claim on Snape's loyalty because he isn't
> sure where Snape stands. I guess I belong to the camp that believes
> Snape is the one who has left forever.
>
> "One, who I believe has left me forever..."
> It's almost as if Voldemort isn't sure about this DE.
>

It really depends on the line reading there, I agree. What I mean is,
is Voldemort stating that "I believe" as an expression of doubt, or as
a considered hypothesis?

I tend to read it with slightly more emphasis on the theory,
especially when coupled with the confident, "He will be killed, of
course." But I still have faith in Snape's ability to occupy that
sliver of doubt that I also believe (aha, see?) is there.

Besides, if V doubted Snape's loyalty and wanted to know for sure, why
wait? Why not seize the opportunity to enlist him in PS?

I think if he really feared that Snape wouldn't help him, he would be
more certain that Snape is a traitor. IOW, either he thinks Snape
might be with him when the time comes, and is waiting for some reason
in PS, or he thinks Snape needs to be reminded that he made a mistake
and is ready to kill him in GOF, and waited to reveal himself in PS
because he wanted to be stronger at the confrontation.

K:
> I don't have a problem with Snape going back as a spy.  However, I
> imagine that there are ways that Snape could help Dumbledore that JKR
> could come up with.  She seems to be pretty good at bringing up new
> and exciting ideas.
>

Perhaps I should take a step back and explain my larger understanding
of where the last three books will go. I think we are all pretty sure
that we're building up to a major conflict in which most of the
magical world will be involved. If anyone thinks there will not be a
showdown between the arrayed forces of good and evil, please explain
how it would be avoided!

Assuming that's right and like most books that take G&E as their
theme, there will be a War, the question is *how* will this conflict
build to a climax? And then what will be the result?

Voldemort is powerful right now, because he's back, but the MInistry
doesn't acknowledge this fact officially, and other than the people
Dumbledore is informing, largely through word of mouth, and the DE's,
*no one else knows he's back.*

That means that he can quietly build up his forces, and if he makes no
overt moves to show a resurgence, he can amass a lot of power while
Dumbledore's forces must move carefully to keep their war engine from
appearing to be seditious.

I'm not saying that JKR couldn't come up with some surprising move
that we couldn't anticipate. But at this point, the development to war
is so palpable, I have trouble believing that focusing anywhere else
is going to do them any good.

It's likely that V will begin attracting supporters again, through his
faithful lieutenants. It's likely that he'll use supernatural means to
secure the assistance of those dark creatures we heard him talk about.
But he'll be doing it all quietly (if he's smart), so it won't exactly
be easy to figure out where his army is in terms of rally, supplies,
battle plans, and above all, his first public act.

I'm not sure what you mean about other spies. Do you mean Dumbledore
had other spies in V's camp? Or do you mean he has access to
information without someone on the inside?

I guess what I'm saying here is that while alliances may be important,
knowing V's plan *right now* is just as important--and Snape is the
natural man for that job.

K: (on alliances)

> We don't know much of anything about the vampires.  But that doesn't
> mean they will not play an important part.  Snape could still have
> gone back to Voldemort and be a part of the vampire world.  Or
> perhaps Snape turned his back on the vampire world and now has to go
> back and make amends.  I still believe he is one :-) Plus, who is to
> say the Snape hasn't been negotiating with his fellow creatures for
> quite some time?
>

Again, it's remotely possible, but if you think S is a vampire, and if
he's been negotiating with them for a long time, then why would Albus
fear for his safety among them?

I don't really have time to go further right now. I'll readdress the
rest of Koinonia's post later, either this weekend or on Monday!

Gwen