Snape's Loyalties

[Talisman]

No: HPFGUIDX 73709

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Arya" <jdq53562 at a...> wrote:
> I just began to wonder about [whether] Snape is really 
> posing as a spy but working at times for Malfoy/Volde.
> 
> During Occlumency lessons Snape gleens that Harry has been having 
> dreams of the Dept of Mysteries. . . . I wonder, do we actually 
have any proof that Snape is keeping the Order/Dumbledore 
informed . . .Or that Snape has been instructed to help PREVENT 
these dreams?  

Talisman, who understands that Madame Pince isn't available for 
research assistance just now, notes:

There are many posts in the archives, regarding the Occlumency 
lessons, that you can peruse sans book.   

Personally, I agree with Ron who felt that Snape was 
actually  "softening Harry up" for Voldemort, albeit I think this 
was by Dumbledore's request. (Dumbledore often co-opts Voldemort's 
plans for his own use.)

Notice that when Harry suggests that Snape was doing this, 
Dumbledore responds with the cryptic "I trust Severus Snape."  
That's nice, but it isn't a "no he wasn't."

Dumbledore tells us that the process of teaching Harry Occlumency 
will actually have the affect of opening Harry's mind further to 
Voldemort (833) and that Dumbledore didn't want that to happen in 
Dumbledore's presence.

Therefore the process obviously does--at least temporarily--soften 
up the subject's mind for easy access. 

We know Dumbledore anticipated Voldemort's using Sirius as bait, but 
didn't bother sharing that information with Sirius or Harry (831), 
and acknowledges that this led to Sirius's death (825). 

Snape immediately informed Sirius of Harry's "Sirius" vision and 
sent the Order to the Dept. of Mysteries after him (830); there is 
no basis for thinking Snape was witholding information from 
Dumbledore.

There is an aging thread of Guilty Dumbledore posts that will tell 
you why I think Dumbledore would want to percipitate the Department 
of Mysteries encounter and why Harry won't be having any more 
Occlumency lessons (their utility is finished because Harry is now 
invulnerable to Voldemort posession/mind control). 

Note that when I say Guilty I mean responsible, because I see 
Dumbledore as a terrifyingly good guy. 

Talisman, who hopes Snape is paying attention to how often she goes 
to bat for him.