The Best and Worst of Snape (WAS snape is a dufus)

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 32726

Amanda wrote:

> Seriously, I will point out again the contrast in how Sirius and 
Snape
> treat the unconscious members of their party on Shrieking Shack
> Night---Sirius lets the unconscious Snape float along and 
bob'n'scrape
> against the ceiling; Snape conjures stretchers for the injured Ron,
> out-cold Harry, and needing-to-be-restrained Sirius. Most everybody,
> when I mention this, just blows it off for one reason or another, 
and it
> certainly doesn't make him a candidate for Humanitarian of the 
Year, but
> I think this is an interesting comparison.

::dives into the room, rolls, and straightens up, all while pinning 
S.I.N.I.S.T.E.R. badge to chest::

Although I am willing to give Snape credit where credit is due, I 
can't concede Amanda's point very easily.  Part of the reason is that 
that scene is one of my favorites in the entire series. :-)

But I need a better argument than that, so let me try this.  Sirius 
lets Snape's head scrape the ceiling when he could easily prevent it, 
true.  Why is that?  In the past hour, Snape (a) snuck up on the 
group to eavesdrop; (b) tied up Lupin so that he crashes to the 
ground; (c) threatened Lupin's life; (d) threatened to kill Sirius 
himself; (e) threatened to let the dementors finish Sirius; (f) 
threatened Harry in some unclear manner with "Move out of the way or 
I will make you"; and (g) above all, refused to listen to reason.  I 
think a little head-scraping is just a slap on the wrist for all of 
Snape's infractions.

Now, just to be fair to Snape, I have to point out two things that 
explain his behavior and put him in a better light, in addition to 
the fabulous comments others have made thus far.

First, I think Snape's failure to listen was entirely rational.  He 
genuinely believed he had walked in on a Confunding-In-Progress.  
Black and Lupin are telling the kids a cockin' bull story to confound 
them, so why should he listen to that?  He might become confunded, 
too.  Also, for him to accept Black and Lupin's story, he would have 
to admit to himself that Pettigrew, Potter and Black learned to 
become animagi, and his pride objects to even considering that 
notion.  He would also have to entertain the possibility that he was 
wrong about Black, and he might even have to ask himself some tough 
questions about whether he (Snape) should have figured out Pettigrew 
was the spy in time to save the Potters.  So if he really believed 
Lupin and Black were lying, then he actually did the right thing by 
stopping the Confunding.

Also (and it really pains me to admit this), Snape could probably 
have taken Black straight to the dementors when he found everyone 
passed out on the grounds.  MoM had already authorized this.  So I 
have to admit that Snape's threat against Lupin and Black may have 
been an empty threat, and Snape may have actually shown mercy by 
taking Black to the castle.

OK, I just admitted two good things Snape has done (and it left a 
pretty bad taste in my mouth, BTW <g>), so I have balance that by 
pointing out another awful thing Snape did.  I think Snape's actions 
once he knew Lupin had failed to take his potion show that Snape is 
acting more to avenge old grudges and because of prejudice than to 
protect the trio.  

We discussed this recently, so I'll try to be brief.  The events were 
that Snape goes to Lupin's office with a goblet of potion.  He knows 
there will be a full moon and that Lupin is going to transform 
because he failed to take his potion.  Then he looks at the map, and 
he sees Lupin "running along the passageway and out of sight."  There 
is only one reasonable conclusion to draw from that:  Lupin is 
fleeing to get to the Shack so that he doesn't transform in the 
castle.  Snape should either (1) follow Lupin *with the goblet* to 
give him the potion before he transforms (which probably would not be 
a good idea), or (2) turn around and go back to his own office, 
figuring the situation is handled because Lupin is away from the 
school and will transform in the Shack just like he did in their 
school days.

But no.  Snape is prejudiced against Lupin and hates Lupin on 
principle.  So he follows *without bringing the potion*, not to help 
Lupin or the trio, but to see if he can catch Lupin doing something 
wrong.  After a year of Dumbledore expressing faith in Lupin and in 
Lupin behaving like a complete professional and doing everything he 
is supposed to do, Snape ought to be bigger than that.  Even assuming 
that Snape was acting to protect the trio once he was in the 
Shrieking Shack, his initial motive for going there shows his true 
personality -- vindictive and prejudiced.  

One more thing:  I know the jury is still out on Snape, as we still 
have three books to go.  But I still think it is fair to criticize or 
compliment Snape or any other characters (or evaluate any other 
aspect of the first four books) based just on what we know so far.  

Cindy (who wishes Sirius' being dead sexy was enough to bring people 
around)