Snape Theories

[backstagemystic]

No: HPFGUIDX 73327

Ashleigh wrote:
>>He almost has no interest in reasoning of a situation wether he 
knows the situation or not, I say this because he his an ex Death 
Eater and should have known Sirius was innocent there-for he was in a
perfect possition to help Sirius's situation.<<


bibphile already touched upon some of this, so I'll try not to get 
too redundant here.

Snape has NO reason to believe in Sirius' innocence in PoA.

The whole of the wizarding world believed Sirius was guilty (re-read 
the conversation at the Three Broomsticks between Rosmerta, 
McGonagall, Flitwick, Fudge and even Hagrid [who really rips on 
Sirius] to get an idea - PoA, pp.202-210, Am hardcover)

Dumbledore himself tells Harry that he gave evidence to the Minstry 
that Sirius was the Potters' Secret Keeper (PoA, p. 392, Am 
hardcover).

There were all the witnesses at the crime scene and the fact that 
Peter's finger was found (thought to be all that remained of him).

Now add to the fact that Sirius, rather than doing something rational 
like owling Dumbledore to investigate Ron's rat, chose to take the 
vigilante' approach (just as he did the night he discovered that 
Peter had betrayed the Potters).

He escaped Azkaban, instilling fear in the community and Harry 
himself (by tailing him), and he terrorized the students at Hogwarts 
by breaking-in to Gryffindor tower.  He did nothing to earn my 
sympathy when he snapped Ron's leg when he dragged Ron under the 
Whomping Willow.

Complicating matters is the fact that Lupin had a pretty good idea as 
to how Sirius was by-passing the Dementors, but he chose to keep that 
to himself.   Snape knew something was up, but couldn't prove it (and 
Lupin's covering for Harry over the Mauraders' map, followed by his 
carelessly forgetting to take his potion, didn't help Snape's opinion 
of him).

Finally, on top of all of the above, Snape has very legitimate 
PERSONAL reasons for thinking the worst of Black and Lupin.  Between 
the story of the "prank" that could have killed him and the 
unprovoked torment Harry witnessed in the Pensieve, what on earth is 
Snape supposed to think?   

How could any of us honestly expect that man to lend any credence to 
the notion that Sirius might be innocent?  

No wonder he's so enraged that the Trio (HRH) would even dare to hear 
Sirius out...and small wonder that he thought they were being duped 
by a Confundus charm.

Sirius was lucky that Snape didn't finish him off right there, 
especially considering that Sirius CHARGED at Snape when Snape bound 
Lupin.  Snape had grounds to blast Sirius right there and 
legitimately claim self-defense.

It's also interesting that Snape had a SECOND chance to finish-off 
Black.   Snape was the first to regain consciousness after Harry's 
Patronus drove-away the Dementors.   What was to stop Snape from 
calling them back, or finishing-off Sirius himself?

At the very least, Snape followed due-process by turning Black over 
to proper authorities (e.g. Dumbledore/Fudge)...even if he was hoping 
that Black's fate would be sealed right there (with a "kiss," no 
less).

As for the idea that Snape should have known about Pettigrew via his 
DE ties...I don't think so.

Karkaroff made it clear at his trial (as seen by Harry via DD's 
Pensieve in GoF), that Voldemort operated with the greatest of 
secrecy, preferring that no DE knew the names of every one of his 
fellows, making sure that only he himself knew the names of all of 
his followers (paraphrased from GoF p. 588 Am hardcover).

Also, Snape wouldn't have had much time to discover Peter, as Fudge 
reveals in PoA that the Potters were killed "...barely a week after 
the Fidelius Charm had been performed - " (PoA, p.205, Am hardcover).

I also believe that Snape was likely the spy who tipped-off 
Dumbledore that the Potters were in danger in the first place (from 
PoA, p.204, Am HC).

BM