Nitpicky Snapethoughts

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 15198

MMM wrote:

> If Snape really believe that, his reaction in that case would be a. 
> draw out his wand and stunned Sirius or b. voice his opinion 
> about 'The nutter who wants to kill Harry' directly with Dumbledore. 
 
> Snape wouldn't yelp but he always says what he thinks (even if 
nobody 
> listen to him).  Hand-shake is certainly out of question if he 
really 
> believes a.

What I picture going through Snape's head is something like:

First: That nutter who wants to kill Harry is here in the hospital by 
his bedside.  Oh man, that whole thing again--don't tell me Dumble 
really thinks he's innocent.

Then: Okay, Dumble really thinks he's innocent.  (Deep breath.)  He 
knows what he's doing.  He knows who to trust.  He trusts me when not 
too many people would.  I trust him.

Then:  Oh God, don't make me actually shake hands with him . . . 
that's a bit much.

He does, of course, because Dumbledore tells him to.

Snape isn't one to mince words, and he doesn't hesitate to argue with 
Dumbledore when they don't see eye to eye, but except for a notable 
leak at the end of PoA, when, as you say, his nerves are just a tad 
frayed, he keeps his objections within the walls of Hogwarts and 
doesn't undermine Dumbledore's decisions (he could've let it slip 
about Lupin anytime all year, but he didn't, and he made the damn 
potion).  He is intensely loyal to AD and does what he tells him when 
it comes to the point, and this is a crisis.  In fact, the whole 
evening pointedly shows Snape doing what Dumbledore asks without 
question or comment.  If AD thinks Sirius belongs at Harry's bedside 
and on their side in the fight against V, Snape will swallow his 
doubts and accept it.

 > Snape does know that Sirius Black is an Animagus -- he 
> was in the Shrieking Shack when Lupin described how the Marauder's 
> all become Animagus.  However, Snape doesn't know what animal Sirius 
> become.  So he could still be startled.

Oh, right.  I lose track of what happens when in that interminable 
scene.  Right, he knows he's an Animagus but of course he wouldn't 
connect the dog that's sitting there with him--he doesn't even know 
there's any connection between Harry and Sirius.  I mean, he probably 
knows Sirius was Harry's godfather, but he would never dream that they 
are actually in touch with each other now, unless Dumbledore had told 
him.

> Or he could have be startled for a different reason -- Sirius has 
the 
> nerve to be sitting right in front of the Minister of Magic.  Hence, 
> the 'What is he doing here?' remark.

Now that's intriguing!  So maybe "What is he doing here?" means "Is he 
crazy, the Minister was just here and there are Dementors 
everywhere--get him somewhere safe."  Not that he can stand him, but 
that he knows they're allies.

Amy Z

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 "=Wow!=" said Dennis, as though nobody in their wildest 
 dreams could hope for more than being thrown into a 
 storm-tossed, fathoms-deep lake and pushed out of it 
 again by a giant sea-monster.
                           -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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