[HPforGrownups] Life debts (Was: Re: Snape ponderings)

[yr awen]

No: HPFGUIDX 41488

Grah... there's something unnatural about working on weekend nights...

Marina said, in re: Snape's life debt:

I kind of wonder that myself.  Presumably, if someone saves your 
life, you only have to save them (or their kid) once in order to be 
quits; you don't have to run around babysitting them until they die 
of old age.  So at this point, I would say that Snape is free to 
hate James Potter's memory in peace. :-)<<<<<<<<<<<<

Well, that is the case unless you're Chewbacca or similar <g>

I think that maybe what we're seeing here is further evidence of Snape's bizarre, yet oh-so-fascinating, psychology. Dumbledore may be asking him specifically to keep an eye out for Harry and Snape, in his own sadistic 'zillion points from Gryffindor' way, is trying to do that -- he's hardly a cuddly de facto guardian, after all. Snape seems to materialize every time Harry is either pondering getting into, or is already in, a lot of trouble. Par example: in PS/SS, he shows up right when the kids decide to go through the trapdoor; in CoS, he's out hunting around the grounds and catches Harry & Ron trying to sneak into school; in PoA, he first has a *very* salient point about the danger of Harry's sneaking out to Hogsmeade and then he's the one who goes after the kids into the Shrieking Shack (although obviously with an ulterior motive.)

Pondering on the issue a little, I want to look at that passage in PS/SS again, because now that I've been indoctrinated in the HPfG's methodology of constant vigilance, it doesn't seem as innocent as it has previously. The passage is PS/SS16, just after the crew leaves McGonagall and Snape surprises them in the hallway:

"You want to be more careful," said Snape. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"

Harry flushed. They turned to go outside, but Snape called them back.

"Be warned, Potter -- any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you."

I'm wondering here if Dumbledore has specifically let Snape in on his theory that Harry knows more than is strictly good for him and wants Snape to make sure nothing bad happens until he gets back from the Ministry. Snape's insinuation that people will think they're 'up to something' could imply he knows that Quirrell is beginning to suspect the kids are trying to find a way to prevent the Stone from being stolen. His expulsion threat is a typical scare tactic, but it is presented specifically to warn against 'nighttime wanderings', and there's something about it, which I can't put my finger on, that says he knows full well that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are going to try something, and he wants to stop them.

Of course, he still can't stand any of them <g>

HF.

 


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