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

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 30242

 
> Cindy wrote:
> >>I don't think we have a Flint, if the events occurred as follows:
> 
>   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. 
>   <<
Pippin wrote:

>  But in that case, McGonagall *did* disobey Dumbledore and 
> leave her prisoner unguarded! Sack her, I say! (j/k)
>  

No, I didn't explain this properly.  McGonagall doesn't really leave 
her post and go out into the hall.  Dumbledore blasted the door of 
Moody's office when he rescued Harry.  McGonagall is standing in the 
office, but she can see into the hall as Snape, Fudge are standing 
there.  They have their quick conversation with Fudge, including 
McGonagall noting the presence of the dementor and telling Fudge this 
is not OK.  Then the dementor swoops in.

Pippin wrote (sequence of events):

> 7. Fudge summons his Dementor and storms into the castle. 
> Fudge *says* he's concerned about his personal safety, but, 
> IMO, what he really wants is to prevent a repeat of last years 
> debacle, when Sirius slipped from his grasp. Snape has no 
> choice but to accompany him, as Fudge refuses to wait. 


Hold on!  How does Fudge have any way of knowing where Crouch and 
McGonagall are located in the castle?  If Snape doesn't escort Fudge 
and dementor, they can wander for ages and never find the right 
office.  

Besides, Snape tells us that he "accompanied" Fudge and the dementor 
into the castle.  So that's why I think that Snape, if he were using 
his head and if he had any respect at all for observing Dumbledore's 
wishes, would have simply said, "I can take you, Minister, but I 
can't do it if you are bringing a dementor.  I'll go fetch Dumbledore 
(or call him on that magical communication device you have there) and 
I'll let you two sort this out."

Pippin wrote:


>    My point here is that the blame for the Crouch incident rests 
> exactly where Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore put it: with 
> Cornelius Fudge.
> 

I think we have a heirarchy of blame here:

1.  Fudge
2.  Snape
3.  McGonagall 


Pippin wrote:
>    BTW, I'm not denying that Snape has his loose cannon 
> moments, but Snape's behavior pales beside Lupin's. Besides 
> Not Taking the Potion, there was Not Telling Dumbledore (NTD) 
> That Harry Could Leave the Castle, NTD About the Map, NTD 
> That Sirius Is An Animagus,and  NTD About The One-Eyed 
> Witch. 


OK, them's fightin' words!  :-)

Lupin's worst crimes against Dumbledore are simply not telling 
Dumbledore things, and several of the things were things that Lupin 
believed he had already handled.  Lupin had already guilted Harry 
into not sneaking to Hogsmeade, so why tell Dumbledore?  Lupin had 
confiscated the map, so why tell Dumbledore?  As for Lupin not 
telling Dumbledore about how Sirius was getting into the castle, 
well, you're right, and I've already ripped Lupin pretty good for 
that.

But Snape!  When he disrespects Dumbledore, he is way out of line and 
he does things that can't be fixed.  One is the dementor debacle.  
The worst is getting Lupin fired.  And if we're counting instances in 
which Snape doesn't tell Dumbledore something, there ought to be a 
few.  NTD that Lupin was on his way to the Shrieking Shack.  NTD that 
someone is stealing potion ingredients and that Moody is searching 
his office.

Cindy (ready to believe that Snape is half-dementor, which would 
explain quite a lot)