Snape

[jamunapriya0]

No: HPFGUIDX 68013

Also coming out of Lurkdom:

Picle Jimmy:

>So why are there so many "Snape Admirers" out there??

I think it's because we respect his ability, though we have yet to see is 
displayed so much.  You have to be more than a pretty good wizard to lie to 
Lord Voldemort constantly and fool him into believing you, and Snape 
especially is in the position of being the most fully scrutinized, mind-wise, of 
all the Death-Eaters. Voldemort thinks he is spying for him, of course, 
otherwise why would he keep his Death-Eater positioned at Hogwarts.  Can 
you imagine how clever Snape must be, how inventive in the day-to-day, 
continuing to please two masters!  This is why he was satisfied when Harry 
verbally recognized his "job," that is, discovering what LV is telling his Death 
Eaters.   Snape is living a double life constantly, as well as constantly risking 
a horribly painful death.   You have to be more than a bit clever, in fact 
brilliant, to pull off that job.  

Though emotionally we can say he is not a healthy man, he must be an 
excellent wizard and Hero-Member of the Order.  We have only seen 
evidence that points this way as far as his wizarding ability goes.

However, I found it odd and sad that he could not do a better job at teaching 
Harry Occlumency.  He actually didn't seem to make much of an effort, to me, 
but then I don't know the method for teaching it.

jamuna