[HPforGrownups] OOP Snape's Veritaserum

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 67725

Bubba said:

> While everyone is contemplating Snape's motive and alliances.  I
> keep coming back to an issue that bugs me. Dumbledore stated that
> Snape had given Umbridge water instead of veritaserum.  How do we
> know his is true since Harry never drank it?  It would have been a
> good way for Snape to betray the Order and let Harry take the fall.
> I personally am not sure Snape gave him water.
> Any other thoughts on it.

I noticed that; I think it's terribly in character for JKR. What I have said
about Snape before, applies still in every page of OoP--he has never done or
said one single thing whose motive can be ascribed or attributed with any
certainty. Further, the several motives are generally 180 degrees apart. So
I think this little bit of inclarity is quite deliberate, to leave us
guessing.

Other than the plot answer--in character, I think that Snape probably did
give her fake stuff. If he wanted Umbridge to find anything out, I'd think
Snape is quite intelligent enough to manipulate circumstances to let her
know whatever specific thing was required. A Harry ready to spill his guts
about anything she happened to ask can hardly be considered a reliable way
to feed certain key facts.

Also, considering some of the things Harry has been privy to concerning
Snape, I doubt Snape would want Umbridge to have even potential access to
any of that.

So I'd bet it really *was* fake Veritaserum, and the fact that it was
probably fake *still* doesn't necessarily mean that Snape is not evil, since
his motives in giving Umbridge fake stuff could easily have been
self-protection, whatever side he's on. Bravo, JKR, you aggravating talented
woman.

~Amanda