So, why did Snape turn on Voldermort?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 39983

Joe Black wrote: 
> > 
> > That ambitious drive in Snape's belly told him that he would 
> > never get the power and recognition he wanted as long as he 
> > was with Voldemort. In fact, working for an evil nutcase like 
that 
> > is downright dangerous – the guy's in a bad mood one day and 
> > all those evil deeds were for nothing. 
> > 
> > No, much better to work for someone like Dumbledore, who 
> > keeps his promises and passes out credit where credit is do. 
> > Also, unlike Da V-miester, Dumbledore will actually die someday 
> > and leave the top spot open.
> > 
> > Yes, that's right. Severus betrayed his master for no other 
> > reason than he was looking out for number one. He switched 
> > sides solely for personal gain. He's ambitious to the core, and 
> > knew he would never get the glory he deserves from that crazy 
> > monster.
> > 
> 

And Naama responded:

> It's a nice theory and would, in fact, be very convincing, except 
for 
> one thing: Dumbledore's complete trust in Snape. For some reason 
(one 
> of the Great HP Mysteries), Dumbledore is certain that Snape is 
loyal 
> to him and to the Light Side. 
> Dumbledore knows Snape to be truly on the Light Side, but if Snape 
> switched because of ambition, I don't see how Dumbledore can be so 
> sure of him. A person who switches sides for such a reason can just 
> as easily switch sides again, if the other side offers something 
> better. IOW, it isn't a change of heart, and I don't think that 
> Dumbledore would trust Snape if he wasn't sure that Snape had gone 
> through a change of heart.
> 
> 


And I'm writing: :) 

On the other hand, once Snape made his choice, it is hard for him to 
turn back. Even if he made the choice to do so out of ambition, the 
fact is, he betrayed Voldemort, which is something that is going to 
be hard to come back from. V-Man himself said "The one I believe has 
left me forever. He will be killed, of course."

So I'm not sure Snape COULD go back, even if his ambition dictated it.

I think a closer answer than ambition is the fact that Snape 
correctly sniffed out which side is the winning side. It really could 
be that simple.

Say you serve a master who fears one wizard above all. Say you see an 
opportunity to go serve that one wizard your boss fears, or perhaps 
that wizard, knowing more about your character than even you do, 
approaches you and asks you to. It's not a slam-dunk that you'd 
switch sides, but you'd have to at least think about it.

The only real clue in the canon that I can see against the 
ambition/survival instinct theory is Dumbledore telling Harry "that 
is a matter between Snape and myself" when Harry asks why he is so 
sure about Snape.

That could indicate that we're talking about a specific event that 
convinced D-Dore that Snape was indeed on the side of the good guys. 

Or it could be both. Snape figured out that he had a better chance of 
attaining power -- and staying alive and out of Azkaban -- if he 
switched sides. Dumbledore didn't buy it for a second at first, but 
Snape convinced him through some act.

In all of this though, I still think there is room for Snape to be 
conflicted about Harry. I think he despises Harry, but knows that the 
best chance of defeating V-Mort once and for all -- and getting Snape 
clear of retribution -- is through Harry. 

Also, I still think Snape and James were friends in the beginning, 
and Snape still feels that life debt.

Let's call this the: SWEET MARY, JESUS AND JOSEPH! Theory

Severus Wants Evil Eradicated Totally, but Most Appropriate Result: 
Young Jerk Stops Undermining Severus' Ambition, Nearly Destroying 
James' Outstanding Sacrifice to Enable Powerful Harry.

Yes, I know, it was Lily's sacrifice, but don't pester me with little 
details like that ;)

Darrin -

HELP! I'm acronyming and I can't stop!