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

[judyserenity]

No: HPFGUIDX 37202

Sherlock (a.k.a Merlyn, aka Steph) had a bunch of questions about 
Snape:

> In what circumstances do you believe Snape left Voldemort's circle 
> of Death Eaters? 

There was a bunch of Snapetheories posted here about 6 to 8 weeks ago; 
they should be in the archives.  My theory is that Snape loved Lily 
and left Voldemort's services when he learned that Voldemort was 
targeting the Potters.


> Do you believe he went because he realised how wrong it all was...?

Yes


> Is Snape a double agent, or just a plain spy for one side? 

I think he's loyal to Dumbledore.


> Do you believe he served time in Azakaban..?

No, Sirius said he was never even charged with being a DE.  Also, we 
saw Dumbledore vouch for Snape in the Pensieve scene. 


> 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?

I don't think he *is* isolated at Hogwarts.  He seems to be one of the 
staff closest to Dumbledore.  In the staffroom scene in CoS, the other 
teachers all back him up. 

Sirius implies that Snape has always been unpleasant, oily-haired, and 
into the dark arts, even as a young student. It's possible that Sirius 
is exaggerating, but I doubt tht Snape was ever sweetness and light. 


> How did he confess? Did he just confess and was believed..?

I think Dumbledore gave him a good twinkling and believed him, without 
spells or potions. 


> What do you believe he did for Voldemort? Was he in his inner 
> circle?... Did he join Voldemort straight after leaving 
> Hogwarts or did he complete some sort of Potions degree?

Not sure what he did for Voldemort, although I assume making potions 
was part of it.  There is a theory that the DEs *are* Voldemort's 
inner circle, and that there are other, lower ranking followers of 
Voldemort.  However, I think Snape was just too young to be 
high-ranking in Voldemort's organization. 

I believe JKR has said that there are no advanced degress in the 
Wizarding World.

I think Snape joined the DEs while still a student at Hogwarts, 
probably right after Sirius pulled the Prank. 


> Why do you believe Snape wants the Defence against the Dark Arts 
job? ... Do you believe he actually wants the job....

I don't think he actually wants the job.  I think this is a 
misperception on the part of the students. 


-- Judy, who should have combined this with her last post, but hadn't 
been planning on answering this tonight