Snape and the Gang of Slytherins

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 31286

Elizabeth wrote (about the dates Snape was a spy):

>One date caught my eye:
> 
> > In 1980, Rosier and Wilkes were killed by Aurors.  Karkaroff and 
> > Dolohov were captured that same year. <snip> By Halloween 1981, 
Snape is a spy for Dumbledore.
> 
> Actually, I think Snape has to have been a spy by 1980, if your 
date 
> of Karkaroff's capture is correct, because Karkaroff tries to 
finger 
> him at his own inquisition and Dumbledore defends Snape at that 
> point, naming him as an informant. 


I don't think we can say for sure that Snape was definitely a spy by 
1980, because we can't assume Karkaroff's pensieve interrogation was 
in 1980.  Karkaroff has been brought from Azkaban, and he says he 
wishes to help "round up the last of the Dark Lord's supporters."  
This suggests that the interrogation took place after Voldemort 
fell.  Also, I think it makes more sense that Dumbledore would 
announce to the world that Snape was a spy only if Voldemort had 
already fallen.

 
Elizabeth again:

> I like the rest of the speculation. And if after all that, James 
> Potter *still* managed to get his family killed by ignoring some 
> warning of Snape's (Snape thinks), well... I can really see how he 
> could end up as he is.
> 

The other nifty thing is that it explains Snape's hatred for Sirius 
in a way that is more compelling.  As it stands, we're left with the 
belief that Snape hates Sirius because of a schoolboy grudge years 
earlier.  Kind of shaky.  Suppose instead that Snape hates Sirius 
because Snape thinks Sirius turned on his friends, but for reasons 
less defensible than the reasons Snape turned on his DE friends . . . 
that makes a bit more sense to me as something that would motivate 
Snape to wish to turn Sirius over to the dementors.  

Susanna wrote:

 > Interesting point, but I doubt it fits into canon because of the 
characters' ages: It seems that Snape is more or less the same age as 
the Marauders and JKR said that he's about 35/36 in GoF. 
> 
> Karkaroff is described as middle-aged (grey hair and beard), so I'd 
say he's in his fifties. 

It is hard to tell how old Karkaroff might really be.  The 
description in GoF is that he has sleek silver hair, like his furs.  
He is tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short.  

Maybe Karkaroff is about 10-12 years older than Snape and therefore 
was not a classmate.  But . . . wait for it . . .  maybe Karkaroff 
used to be a Hogwarts teacher and head of Slytherin house. When 
Karkaroff arrives, he gives a friendly greeting to Dumbledore and 
says, "Dear old Hogwarts . . . How good it is to be here, how good."  
(Note that Madam Maxime is friendly to Dumbledore, but doesn't say 
anything like "Dear old Hogwarts.")  This suggests he is familiar 
with the place, perhaps having worked there and developed a 
relationship with Snape.

The relationship between Snape and Karkaroff gets interesting if 
Karkaroff used to be Snape's Head of House.  In GoF, Karkaroff 
behaves kind of like Snape's subordinate, whom Snape is avoiding.  I 
don't know if that depiction of the relationship makes sense if Snape 
used to be Karkaroff's student.  

Susanna again:

> 
> McNair seems to be older than Snape (sorry, but I'm at work right 
now and don't have the books), at least I think so- his description 
made me think of a man in his fifties as well. 
> 

I don't think we know if McNair is older than Snape.  In PoA, two 
wizards were involved in Buckbeak's execution.  One was really old.  
But McNair is described as "tall and strapping, with a thin black 
mustache."  So he could easily be Snape's age.

Catlady wrote:

>I cannot imagine Dumbledore demanding human heads as a price 
> (metaphorical human heads). 

I don't know about this.  If you're going to go around battling dark 
wizards, you're going to get your hands dirty from time to time.  
Dumbledore has already shown his toughness by defeating Grindewald, 
and Harry has observed his fiery intensity when he stunned Fake 
Moody.  I think that before Dumbledore would trust Snape had really 
returned, and be willing to publicly clear Snape's name, he would 
need *real* proof.  

As for demanding metaphorical human heads, I agree with this to a 
point.  Dumbledore would never ask that Snape kill a DE personally, 
only that Snape provide the information that allows Moody to 
apprehend the DEs.  I don't think Dumbledore would do anything 
overtly immoral, but requiring Snape to provide information (or 
arrange an ambush) leading to capture of the bad guys isn't asking 
all that much.  It's not Dumbledore's fault (or Snape's fault) that 
some DEs chose to fight rather than surrender.

Cindy