Questions regarding Snape's past and the choices he made.

[ritadear2]

No: HPFGUIDX 37199

Steph wrote:

a bunch of questions about Snape, which I will answer, lol, 
because I too, am bored tonight and love to ponder Snape.

"In what circumstances do you believe Snape left Voldemort's 
circle of Death Eaters? Do you believe he went because he 
realised how wrong it all was, or became scared or in fear of his 
own life? Did he go willinginly to Dumbledore? Or did Voldemort 
send him to be his spy, and Snape chose to become 
Dumbledore's spy instead?"

I believe that something happened that made Snape "see the 
light".  There are lots of theories about this, many are much 
better than mine.  In my opinion, I think something happened to 
his parents at the hand of Voldemort and when he found out 
about it (perhaps as a punishment for something) he became 
outraged and left.  Or maybe he just didn't like groveling for 
Voldemort and maybe thought he'd be a bigger fish working on 
Dumbledore's side--which he is, as it is, he is pretty much 
Dumbledore's right-hand-man, it seems.  So, maybe he was just 
seeking glory and appreciation.  Which might be why he resents 
Harry.  He was kind of IT until Harry came along and has better 
ideas and more trust than he does.

"Is Snape a double agent, or just a plain spy for one side? Do 
you believe he served time in Azakaban even though he was a 
spy on Dumbledore/Ministry of Magic's side? If he did serve time, 
how long did he served and how did he take it? Was he offered a 
job and a second chance from Dumbledore whilst he was in 
Azakaban or was it after he was released?"

It seems to me he was cleared of his charges, so I doubt he 
served time in Azkaban.  I also think he just spied for 
Dumbledore, but I think Voldemort thought he was spying for 
him.

"When he joined the school as a teacher, was he like he is now, 
or did years of isolation and being left out of other teacher activity 
turn in him into how he is now?"

Sounds to me like he was like he is now (you know, petty, 
jealous, grudge-holding, brilliant, etc.) while he was a student at 
Hogwarts.  And, I don't know that he IS left out of teacher activity, 
he and McGonagall seem to get along, like they have a friendly 
sort of house rivalry, based on mutual respect.   He also seems 
to get along well with Filch and Hagrid, as well as the Big D 
himsef.  I bet Snape has a great sense of humor when among 
his peers.

"How did he confess? Did he just confess and was believed, or 
confess and wasn't believed and so forced to take a truth potion? 
If he was forced into taking a truth potion, how did he react to 
that?"

My guess is he confessed, which is why Dumbledore took him in  
and put him in a position of trust.  He also changed sides before 
the big showdown, which I think is important.  I can imagine a 
scene where he went to Dumbledore with the information about 
his parents (in my theory above) and Dumbledore, having been 
in the know all along, taking him in and giving him another 
chance.

"What do you believe he did for Voldemort? Was he in his inner 
circle? Did he just make potions for Voldemort? If he just made 
potions, what sort of potions did he make? Did he join Voldemort 
straight after leaving Hogwarts or did he complete some sort of 
Potions degree?"

I think he'd have to have been in the inner circle in order to have 
the dark mark.  I would imagine that working with Voldemort 
probably increased his potions ability, but he has demonstrated 
that he is a powerful wizard in other areas, too--the counterspell 
at the quiddich match in the first book, disarming Lockhardt, etc..

"Why do you believe Snape wants the Defence against the Dark 
Arts job? Is it to make young people aware and stop them going 
down the path he went down? Or is it for a completly different 
reason? Do you believe he actually wants the job, or is Harry just 
suspicious of him because of his relationship with most of the 
Defence against the Dark Arts teachers?"

I don't know that Snape does want the DADA position.  We've 
only heard that he does from students, and really, what do they 
know?  I can't imagine him believing he would get it, if he really 
did want it, since it would really tarnish his image as a potentially 
dark wizard if he were teaching *defense* against the dark arts.  
Might raise eyebrows among his former death eater peers who 
think he's still on their side.  A rumor might have been started (by 
himself, or maybe Dumbledore, who is historically not above 
allowing rumors to distract students from the truth, like the 
shrieking shack) that Snape wants the DADA job, but isn't 
allowed to have it, in order to perpetuate his image of a man in 
angst.   Or to make it seem like he and Dumbledore aren't really 
eye-to-eye, and that there is some dissention between them.  

Please forgive any misspellings, I see I can't access my 
spellcheck on the board, and I have become so very dependent 
on that feature!

Rita