Snape & Dementors (Was: Re: In defense of Snape was: In Defense of McGonagall

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 30209

MMMfanfic at h... wrote:
> I think we have a possible flint here.
> 
> Here's the passage:
> 
> Snape: When WE told Mr Fudge that we had cuaght the Death Eater 
> responsible for tonight's events ... He insisted on summoning a 
> Dementor to accompany him into the castle
> 
> McGonagall: I told him you would not agree, Dumbledore!  I told him 
> you would never allow Dementors to set foot inside the castle, but -
-
> 

I don't think we have a Flint, if the events occurred as follows:

1.  Snape goes to fetch Fudge while McGonagall stands guard.
2.  Snape says to Fudge, "Come with me.  We've caught the guy who 
killed Cedric."  Fudge says, "OK.  Let me rustle up a dementor."
3.  Snape accompanies Fudge and the dementor into the castle and 
accompanies them to Moody's office, where McGonagall is. 
4.  McGonagall goes into the hall where she greets Snape, Fudge and 
the dementor.  McGonagall says the dementor should not be in the 
castle.  Fudge blows her off, and Snape doesn't back McGonagall up 
(Snape is probably still angling to pick up that Order of Merlin he 
missed in PoA, and doesn't care one bit about following Dumbledore's 
orders that dementors aren't allowed in the castle).  
5.  In McGonagall's presence, Snape provides more detail to Fudge 
about Crouch's guilt.  Fudge says, "OK, let's see him."
6.  Dementor swoops in and administers the kiss.

BTW, my original point in raising this issue is not that Snape should 
be fired for disobeyeing Dumbledore's orders.  That would be quite 
pleasant and totally justified, and I would applaud it.  As you can 
see, I think Snape is one of those people adept at "office politics" 
who looks for opportunities to deviate from the boss' orders to serve 
his own ends whenever he can get away with it.  Note how he never 
directly defends McGonagall against Dumbledore's biting comment that 
suggests Dumbledore believes she did not guard Crouch properly.  

No, my real purpose for raising this issue was to prove that it was 
Snape who is more responsible for what happened than McGonagall.  I 
think people blame McGonagall because Dumbledore initially indicated 
that she had failed in her duty to stand guard over Crouch Jr.  In 
any event, I think we should stop criticizing McGonagall and cut her 
a break.  

Cindy