OoP: New idea how Snape might have proved himself

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 64111

In my conversations with Milz about how open Harry should be when the first 
Slyth kid comes knocking on the door of the D.A. class, a spark was lit on the 
question: "What did Snape do to earn D-Dore's trust?"

What if the answer lies with young Neville Longbottom?

There was a prophecy that applies to both Harry and Neville and V-Mort 
heard part of the prophecy.

Now, Dumbledore made a comment about V-Mort choosing to go after Harry 
because of his half-blood status, but that makes little sense to me. It seems 
like V-Mort, he who wants eternal life, upon hearing this prophecy, would try 
to kill any wizard kid born in July, and likely June and August, besides, and 
not worry about the thrice-defied stuff.

Better safe than sorry.

So, I say Neville Longbottom was indeed a target, but V-Mort was a busy guy, 
so he dispatched some of his faithful D.E.s to various places to snuff out the 
babies.

V-Mort, perhaps because of the half-blood status, or because of some link 
James has to Godric Gryffindor, did indeed go to the Potters' himself.

But what if Snape was the one who was assigned to take out Neville? And he 
just couldn't do it and went to D-Dore and told him the whole story, including 
that V-Mort was going after Harry. Obviously, this would have had to have 
taken place some time before V-Mort went, but we don't know how long a 
Fidelus charm takes, so it could have just been a matter of days.

This could explain why Neville is so terrified of Snape. He has a 
subconscious memory of Snape standing over his crib with a wand, getting 
ready to kill him. 

Now, why does this make Snape so angry? First, he's an angry guy generally 
and we're starting to find out why.

But I've always been of the belief that Snape kinda liked where he was in life 
when he was D.E. He had powerful friends (Yeah, you just try to bully me 
now, Sirius Black. Get him, Uncle Voldie!) He had power. He was part of a 
group.  He might even have had access to babes. (Hey, Bellatrix and 
Narcissa, how you doin'?) 

We know now that he did, at one point in his life, subscribe to the "pureblood" 
only doctrine. I'm sorry, but if you are just humiliated and lash out at a girl, you 
say, "bitch" or "whore." You don't use racial slurs unless they trip easily off the 
tongue generally.

I've argued that he still might feel this way, on some level. Look at how he 
treats Hermione. For a teacher who allegedly respects achievement, he drags 
her down when he can. (This may be for another reason, such as maintaining 
a cover with the Slyth kids and hating her for being Harry's friend, but I still 
maintain her Muggle-bornness is in play.)

It is possible to not like Muggle-borns and disapprove of V-Mort. Plenty of 
white Southerners hated what the KKK did, but then didn't want their children 
going to school with black kids. Such a contradiction would be just like Our 
Man Snape.

But Snape couldn't kill Neville and he had to run to D-Dore, fearing for his life.  
He had to give up his good life because he couldn't kill this little fat baby and... 
he HATES it.

So, that explains why he seems to revel in torturing Neville so. (Again, could 
just be a cover for the Slyths.)

I have this image of Snape, if he's still alive at the end of book 7, leaving 
Hogwarts, telling Dumbledore, if he's still alive, to take his Potions and DADA 
jobs and shove them, then go  screaming off into the sunset. But first, he'd 
say...

To Harry, he'd say: "Good show, Potter. Your dad was still an asshole."
To Ron, he'd say: "Exceptional bravery, I'm glad I am leaving before the next 
generation of stupid Weasleys come along."
To Hermione, he'd say: "Clever girl, but still too much of show-off."

Welcoming slings and arrows. :)

Darrin