Snape and the Confunded Trio (WAS Snape is an HONEST nasty person)

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 39339

AmandaGeist wrote:

> Alternately, he could really believe they were Confunded, but for 
>some reason I really don't think he does. I don't know why that 
>should be so....anyone think he really believes this? Or got any 
>justification for either thought?

As much as it pains me to give credit to Snape, I believe that Snape 
is being truthful with Fudge at the end of PoA.  Snape really does 
believe the kids have been Confunded.  He is not trying to keep them 
out of trouble, IMHO, and he is not willing to lie go get them into 
trouble beyond what they deserve.  

That is so honorable that it makes me want to scream!

The sequence of events is that Snape comes into the Shrieking Shack 
under the cloak, and he hears Lupin explaining his werewolf days and 
hears that his old enemies are animagi.  Later, he tells Fudge that 
the trio has been Confunded.

But why doesn't Snape later tell Fudge that Sirius is some sort of 
Animagus (although Snape doesn't learn what type)?  This would be 
very helpful to Fudge -- Order of Merlin-type stuff, perhaps?
 
The reason, I think, is simply that Snape does not believe 
a word of what he hears.  He thinks Lupin and Sirius are confunding 
the kids, so the whole wild werewolf days/animagus story is a hoax.  
I mean, it sure *looks* like a Confunding-In-Progress, doesn't it?  
Despite being in the presence of a dangerous convicted murder, the 
kids are listening intently to Lupin rather than struggling or 
fighting to escape.  

Thus, the fact that Snape is surprised in GoF that Sirius really is 
an animagus makes perfect sense -- he never believed it in the first 
place.

Besides, if Snape is willing to believe that Sirius is an animagus, 
then he also has to accept that Peter is an animagus.  This supports 
Sirius' story, and Snape would *never* want to believe anything that 
might prove that Sirius is telling the truth and does not deserve to 
part with his soul. 

Also, Snape has never managed the animagus transformation (so far as 
we know).  He loathes the Marauders, and James in particular.  He 
would much prefer to believe that James didn't manage something 
*that* impressive (on top of being bright, popular and athletic).  

Now, if Snape were thinking straight, he'd have realized that James' 
ability to transform into a stag meant that James really *didn't* 
risk his life saving Snape to the extent Snape has always imagined.  
It might even wipe out Snape's life debt to James on a technicality.

But who said Snape can think straight?  ;-)

Cindy