Snapers vs. Sirists; Canon Snape

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 34677

Marina wrote (about Snape's bravery):

> 
> First of all, the question is not "is Snape more brave than 
Sirius?",
> the question is "is Snape brave?"  

That's true, of course.  But if one values bravery, and if Sirius is 
more brave than Snape, then a Snape fan ought to like Sirius as well, 
no?

Marina again:

>Second, there is other canonical
> evidence for this besides his spying activities (and given Voldie's
> tendency to Crucio anyone who even mildly annoys him, the spying is
> enough proof for me).
> 
> When Quirrel makes his first attempt at the Stone on Halloween, 
Snape
> goes after him, and gets his leg mangled by a giant three-headed  
dog
> for his trouble.  He knew the dog was there, so it's not like he
> wasn't aware of the danger when he went.

Doesn't Snape's injury count as a strike against him in 
the "Brilliant and Talented" category?  Quirrell doesn't get mangled, 
and I doubt "Not Fully Qualified" Hagrid would get mangled.  

Marina again: 
 
> When he discovers that Lupin forgot to take his potion, he goes 
after
> him, even though he knows there's a good chance he might end up 
having
> to face down a werewolf.  When he gets to the Shrieking shack, he
> finds himself facing not only Sirius -- whom he believes to be a
> particularly brutal killer, the monster who murdered thirteen people
> with one curse, the only man ever to escape from Azkaban -- but also
> Lupin, whom he believes to be in league with Sirius.  Yet, 
confronted
> with two such vicious and evil (he thinks) enemies, Snape shows no
> sign of fear or backing down; instead he faces them in order two
> protect a bunch of kids he doesn't even like.

Oh, I just can't get on board here.  Snape goes to the Shack under an 
invisibility cloak and armed with his wand.  When he arrives, he 
finds three kids, an unarmed Sirius Black, and his professional 
colleague Lupin.  He doesn't take the cloak off until he is good and 
ready.  I see no reason to think Snape was in any great danger or 
behaved in an especially brave manner.  I don't think Snape was being 
brave to follow Lupin; I believe he knew the cloak would protect him, 
and he also knew the full moon wasn't up yet.

Marina again:

> It's established in PoA that the Wolfsbane potion is particularly 
hard
> to make, yet Snape get it right every time -- and Dumbledore trusts
> him to get it right every time, knowing that lives depend on his
> success.  

OK, this is true and canon-based.  I forgot about that.  OK, Snape 
can make one potion that not many wizards are talented enough to make.

Marina again:

>In general, we have never seen Snape get a potion wrong; and
> whenever a potion is needed, the people at the school always go to 
him
> -- they don't order from St. Mungo's, or drop into Ye Old Potions
> Shoppe in Diagon Alley or somesuch.  

Actually, I don't think we can really say this based on canon.  I 
think there are only two other examples of characters using or 
requesting a potion from Snape.  One is the Mandrake solution, and I 
don't recall anything in canon suggesting that it is difficult to 
make.    

The other is the Veritaserum.  There is nothing in canon that says 
that Snape brewed the Veritaserum, and there is nothing in canon that 
says brewing it is difficult.  Yes, Veritaserum is controlled by 
strict ministry guidelines, but that is probably because it can be 
abused.  Snape could have purchased it, for all we know.  The point 
is that we just don't know, so it isn't probative of Snape's 
brilliance one way or the other.  

Cindy (working on a theory about why Snape turned spy and why he came 
back)