ootp, Snape questions, and crucio question

[ladilyndi]

No: HPFGUIDX 62495

--- Cindy wrote:
> Okay,
1) if Snape knew so much about the Dark Arts when he first arrived at
> Hogwarts, how come he couldn't defend himself better from their 
attack
> in the fifth year? I'd really like to hear everyone's thoughts on 
this.
> 2) Why does Harry blame Sirius's death on Snape at the end of the
> book, when Dumbledore clearly explained Snape's role to him? I
> understand that he is grieving, but its not logical to blame Snape,
> becuase Harry himself knows very well how stubborn Sirius is. He 
left
> the house against Dumbledore's orders.


Lynn:

For the first question, I wonder if perhaps one reason Snape is so 
harsh with Neville is because that's how Snape was while at 
Hogwarts.  It would certainly make sense if Snape came from a 
background as horrid as that one snippet of memory revealed.  Snape 
may certainly have known a lot about the Dark Arts but that wouldn't 
necessarily mean that he had the confidence to apply them.  It may 
well be that the reason Snape fell in with the Death Eaters is that 
for the first time he did have some power in his life.

As for question #2, I think Harry blames Snape because of all of 
Snape's taunting of Sirius.  Harry may feel that Sirius would have 
stayed behind if Snape hadn't been constantly taunting Sirius about 
the fact that he was sitting in hiding while everyone else was 
risking their lives.  All of this isn't Snape's finest moments.  
Snape knows that Sirius is under orders to stay at the house and 
Snape certainly knows why.  Snape knows by now that Sirius was 
innocent and was in Azkaban as an innocent man.  He knows what 
discovery would mean for Sirius and yet he can't let go of his hatred 
for James and Sirius and he certainly ignores Dumbledore's wishes 
that he and Sirius get along.  Snape could have shown himself the 
bigger man in this relationship and he failed miserably.  His 
continued hatred of Harry just because Harry is James' son does 
nothing other than make me more disgusted with him.  He complains 
about James' arrogance and bullying ways and yet, he is now exactly 
what he complains about with James.  

Lynn