So, why did Snape turn on Voldermort?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 39894

It has not been established that Snape was indeed the spy who tipped 
off Dumbledore that the Potters were a target, but that's obviously 
the strongest possibility.

Regardless, Snape did turn on the V-Meister, and I'm curious as to 
the theories why.

My one assumption is that Snape's hatred of Harry is NOT an act. 

For Dishwasherites, Snape hating Harry DOES fit. He can grudgingly 
accept Harry as the best hope and still despise him in spite of (or 
because) of it.

Anyway, my thoughts:

1) His life debt to James came a-calling. 

I've said that I think it would be interesting if Snape and James 
were friends in their first-year (or perhaps in their pre-Hogwarts 
days) and then drifted apart. BUT regardless of friendship, Snape 
does owe his life to James. Snape had no choice but to save him.

The "no choice" part would establish why Snape hates Harry. He had a 
good thing going with the Death Eaters and thanks to the stupid 
prank, Snape ended up with a life debt to someone he hated.

On the other hand, it seems that Snape wouldn't have stuck around as 
long as he did if it was just one debt. You could argue that 
Voldemort's crowd wouldn't take him back, but if they KNEW Snape was 
the spy, wouldn't people like Lucius Malfoy scream bloody murder at 
Snape being head of his son's house?

2) He was trying to save Lily, not James.

I've read some fan sites that speculate Snape was in love with Lily. 
Go with that. He found out Volderoni was going after the Potters and 
he didn't want Lily killed.

This could explain why he is so hard on Harry. The lady Snape was in 
love with sacrificed her life for Harry, and the least the little 
jerk can do is pay attention in Potions class, right?

On the other hand, it doesn't totally explain why he has stuck 
around. Again, if he is persona non grata with the Death Eaters, the 
parents of the Slytherin kids would really not want him in charge of 
Slytherin.

3) Volde really ticked Snape off

Pure and simple, Snape wasn't getting his way in the Death Eater 
crowd and decided the grass was greener on the other side.

Doesn't really explain his hatred for Harry, other than hating his 
father, but it does explain why he's stuck around Hogwarts all this 
time.

4) Dumbledore made Snape an offer he can't refuse

It's been speculated that Snape is part-vampire. Assume that's true 
for a second. We don't know what vampire mythology JKR is going to 
use -- for instance, what the effects of coffins, garlic, sunlight, 
crosses, etc...would be? -- but say that Dumbledore found a "cure" 
for Snape similar to the werewolf potion. 

Snape, flabbergasted by Dumbledore's kindness, decided to stick 
around.

Again, the Harry-hate thing isn't as clear here, but Snape sticking 
around and not running for the hills makes more sense.

I'm sure it will end up being something completely different, but 
hey, this is tons of fun

Darrin Burnett
-- Here's hoping Snape REALLY gets to kick some tail by the end of 
book 7