Sorry. The Sudden Movement.

[errolowl]

No: HPFGUIDX 56236



Derannimer wrote:
------
Okay, I know we've all talked about this a thousand times, *but*--

"Snape made a sudden movement, but as Harry looked at him, Snape's 
eyes flew back to Fudge."
-snip-
I don't care for the "Snape thought Malfoy had really repented of his 
DE-hood" explanation--it doesn't seem to me to account for the 
surreptitious nature of that reaction. 
Does anyone have a better idea than the old Gullible!Snape one? 
------

Geez Derannimer! You don't like the concept of old Gullible
Snape? Is it ideas that you're wanting?! <grin> Try a few for
size. I haven't been through all the thousands of previous
debates on 
the topic so I just might be redundant here.

Lets start with Wary!Snape

When Harry starts reeling off the list of deatheaters, Snape has not 
yet revealed his own DE status to Fudge. Was Snape afraid of being 
mentioned on that list, in front of a load of people? Suppose 
Voldmort had mentioned the missing members by name – wouldn't
Harry out Snape then? True Fudge already knew about reformedDE! 
Snape, but there were others in the room that almost certainly 
didn't. In which case, his sudden movement was a reaction to the
list as a whole, and not to Lucius' name.

Eventually his own frustration with Fudge pushes him to bring up the 
issue of his mark in public. But I don't think Snape was headed 
toward a disclosure to start with.

This brings me back to just how many people know that Snape was a DE 
and then cleared by Dumbledore. Most of the Post Voldmort trials 
appear to be public knowledge. There was a crowd atleast 200 strong 
in the Pensieve scene. 

OTOH, if it were common knowledge, I think we would see a difference 
in how Snape is treated by the WW. They accept Lucius since he 
was "cleared" and what he did was supposedly under the
imperius curse. Would they accept an acknowledged DE-by-his-own-
choice Snape as easily? The fact that he turned spy will win respect, 
but he would most probably be talked about behind his back, and fuel 
speculation on whatever he did as a spy. The kids at Hogwarts would 
certainly have a great tool to tease him with – the rumor that he 
wants the DADA position and that he knows an awful lot about the Dark 
arts is bandied about enough. Think the kids would pass up such a 
prime piece of gossip?

Or maybe the sudden reaction was because Snape is working back toward 
getting in the DE's good books by forming an alliance with
Malfoy? Snape could be setting up Malfoy for something –
something still too premature to discuss with Fudge
and he needs 
Malfoy to be in the clear for now. So he just didn't want Fudge
to 
start having doubts about Lucius now of all times – notice how he 
looks back at Fudge almost immediately, waiting keenly for his 
reaction. He keeps quiet once the Minister dismissed the idea. I get 
the feeling that if Fudge showed any inclination of believing Harry 
on that point, we would have been treated to another dazzling display 
like the one at the end of PoA!!


Another explanation, (though way off the charts) is Confused!Snape.
Under this theory, Snape reacts to the mention of Malfoy's name 
specifically, perhaps because Malfoy *shouldn't* have been there.
No, no, hear me out while I try out these suppositions ! <grin> you 
wanted ideas...not canon, right?

Maybe Malfoy was supposed to be in a place from which it is not 
possible to apparate, and Snape knew it. In which case I don't
blame Snape for being surprised that Lucius was actually made it to 
the graveyard. After all, Fake!Moody didn't make it for similar
reasons among others. Oh,....or maybe Malfoy has been imprisoned by 
Snape somewhere, so Snape knew the one at the graveyard was an 
imposter! Or,...

*ducks missiles* OK, OK, <sigh> I surrender. I'll stop before my 
imagination gets away from me again!

Errol