Snape, Sirius, the Dementors

[ssk7882]

No: HPFGUIDX 34075

Cindy wrote:

> During one of my anti-Snape rants, someone (pigwidgeon?) 
> kindly informed me that Snape had every opportunity to 
> turn Black over to the dementors in PoA.  Snape wakes 
> up, finds Black, conjures a stretcher and takes Black . . . 
> to the castle, not to the dementors.  Snape could have taken 
> Black to the dementors (or called the dementors).  This, 
> according to the pro-Snape crowd, means Snape is not pure 
> evil incarnate.

Cindy then struggles to account for this decision in some way that 
might allow her to continue to think bad things about Snape, but 
fails to be convinced by her own theories.  She finally sighs:

> So I am left with the idea that Snape showed mercy on Black because 
> Dumbledore would have wanted him to. ::hangs head in defeat::

No!  Wait, Cindy!  Don't give up!  All is not lost!

How's this?  Snape takes Black back to the castle, rather than
handing him over to the dementors, because he thinks that he'll
get more *glory* that way.

After all, any old Squib could squeal for a bunch of dementors 
to come and rid the world of a dangerous criminal.  But to be 
the wizard who captured Sirius Black single-handed and brought
him in *alive?*  That's Order of Merlin territory.

There now.  You see?  Cheer up.  You can keep on hating Snape, if you 
want to.

-- Elkins, who just couldn't stand to see Cindy so disheartened