Snape, the DEs and the Longbottoms

[moongirlk]

No: HPFGUIDX 33842

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ssk7882" <theennead at a...> wrote:
  
> But I prefer not to.  Until Rowling proves me wrong, I will 
> continue to operate under the assumption that even while 
> conspiring to betray them, Snape retained a strong personal 
> affection for many of the DEs, and that when they got 
> themselves slaughtered by Aurors or shipped off to Azkaban, 
> it really *hurt* -- even (or, rather, *especially*) when it 
> happened due to the information he was secretly passing along 
> to Dumbledore.  It is terribly common for real-world spies 
> to engage in just this brand of cognitive dissonance.  One 
> might argue, in fact, that the ability to maintain such a 
> schismed perspective is the hallmark of a successful agent.
> 

I'm sure you're right, and it puts a new light on Snape's current 
anti-social behavior.  Perhaps he holds everyone at ten-foot-pole 
length because he's afraid to form new bonds or get close to people, 
for fear that someday they too, for one reason or another, will be 
taken away or will betray him as he has betrayed his friends in the 
past.  The bitterness he displays seems very much in keeping with 
this idea.  His right (not easy) choice had dire results for people 
he cared about.  He saw his friends die or be imprisoned in part 
because of his decision.  He maybe knew he had to do it, but that 
doesn't mean he liked it or it's effects.  No wonder he's so 
unpleasant, and why wouldn't he choose to go out of his way to put 
people off, especially those who are vulnerable and/or weak.  Even 
more especially if, as you also suggested, he was the one to lead 
some of his friends into DE-ness to begin with.  He doesn't consider 
himself someone to be trusted or admired, and perhaps feels that the 
farther such people stay away from him, the better off they are.  It 
makes him quite the tragic figure of guilt, and all the more 
endearing, darnit.  I'm really getting tired of people giving me 
reasons to *like* Snape, something I never intended to do.
Still, thanks for the thought-inducing post!

kimberly