[HPforGrownups] The Spying Game and the Shrieking Shack (VERY LONG)

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 39714

Gods, I could read about competent!Snape all day long. :-)

>
> > that's the case, why not hand Sirius over to the Dementors when he
> > has the chance? When asked about the Dementors he says  "By the time
> > I came round they were heading back to their positions at the
> > entrances"(PoA p.284) - not 'they were nowhere to be seen.' Snape had
> > an excellent opportunity there to say 'excuse me, but haven't you
> > forgotten someone?'
>
> We've chewed over this one before. Perhaps the Dementors had *such* a
shock
> that they just weren't coming back for more. Perhaps Snape had cooled down
> enough not to seek immediate personal revenge. Perhaps, suddenly finding
> himself in control of Sirius' inert form, he saw the opportunity for
> increasing his personal prestige by being the person who brought in Sirius
> alive (rather than merely *reporting* his kissing at the hands of the
> Dementors).

Great, now I have a piece of material evidence for that gut feeling I had
all along -
Snape never intended to feed Sirius to dementors. When he says "I don't
think we
need to go that far", he is bluffing - he wants Sirius to beg for his life.
(But even
that little satisfaction is denied to poor man ;)
I think that if Snape was to look into the mirror of Erised, he would see
Dumledore  saying: "Severus, you were right about Black all along, I'm
sorry".
By bringing him to the castle alive, he'd get that wish and probably Black
will
even witness it - much greater satisfaction than killing Black on the spot.

If that explanation is too romantic, then maybe it's just Dumbledore
sending his beloved golden boy to dementors has more sadistic pleasure
potential that doing it by himself.

> > Is there a listie who doesn't believe that Severus Snape hates Sirius
> > Black?  What we don't know is *why* Snape hates Black so much.

> [This
> > is usually the point where Prank comes up and wags his tail and/or
> > LOLLIPOP sets sail with all flags flying. :-) ]

Getting the Occam's Razor out - yes, Prank is reason enough for me.  :-)
I don't buy this line of reasoning that Snape could only charge
his curiosity with attempted murder. To quote someone from the last
time it came up: "Sirius only supplied information, he did not force Snape
to act on it".
Sure. That's what Iago said when St. Peter was throwing him to hell. ;-)

Irene