[HPforGrownups] Harry Lists D.E. & Malfoy (Re: Clues in GoF)

[Melinda S]

No: HPFGUIDX 53134

 
 
Greg said:

>I also, for some reason, 
>dont see Snape collaborating with Malfoy on anything >that is outside 
>the realm of Dumbledore - Dumbledore is the only >thing that kept 
>Snape from the Dementors.

>More likely, I think, is that Snape thought that >Lucius was a benign 
>entity, that he could be trusted, at least that he >was not allied 
>with Voldemort.  Now he finds out that he is, and >this compromises 
>him in some way.

Me:

I also do not see Snape and Malfoy as collaborating on anything, but I also do not get the impression that Snape ever thought that Malfoy was benign or that he could be trusted.  It is quite possible that Snape did not see Malfoy as allied with Voldemort, as IMO number one in Malfoy's books is himself, and he will always look after himself first and foremost.  But also, I think that fear of Voldemort, and of desertion of Voldemort would induce most Death Eaters to return to the fold *very* quickly.  One big rule for protecting yourself is to make sure that you haven't teed off someone who is likely to kill you, such as Voldemort.  I put Lucius Malfoy in that category.  

 

Also, I thought that Snape's "sudden movement" was more due to apprehension that Harry might put his name on that list of people he was rattling off.  Harry knows (or has great suspicions,) that Snape was a Death Eater, as Dumbledore hinted to him. (Ch.30 GOF) Snape, like Lucius, is concerned with himself.  

But why would Harry tell?  There are two reasons as I see it:

1) Harry doesn't trust Snape the way Dumbledore does. "What made you think that he'd really stopped supporting Voldemort Professor?" (Ch. 30 p524 in the GB hardcover 2000 ed. of GOF) For all Harry knows Snape may still be loyal to Voldemort.  Harry also has no reason to trust Snape, as Dumbledore apparently does.

2) Also, Snape knows that Harry hates him just as he hates Harry.  Snape is the type of person who might rat on someone out of hatred for them.  We are pretty sure that Harry won't, but Snape has no guarantees about Harry's behaviour.  I believe he knows that if the roles were reversed, he would probably rat on Harry, and I think Snape may judge Harry on his own standards of behaviour, on what Snape would do in the same position. 

One problem is that Snape was not explicitly mentioned by Voldemort after his revival in Chapter 33. We assume that the Death Eater who has left him forever is Snape, but knowing JKR, that *may* not be so. Snape may not have been included in that group of six that Voldemort dwells on. (3 dead, 1 loyal, 1 lost, 1 coward.) 

Also, Voldemort, while touring the circle of Death Eaters, did not stop to talk to them all, nor did he mention the names of them all.  For all we know, Snape may have been there. (As far as I remember - someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)  Therefore, Harry doesn't know where Snape is, whether he was there or not, and to whom he is truly loyal.  (Personally, I think Snape is loyal to Dumbledore, and that he was not at the DE gathering, but Harry is not so sure on this point.)

Because of the uncertainty of the extent of Harry's knowledge, and of his hatred, Snape doesn't know whether Harry will act on any suspicions or grudges he *may* have.  IMO, Snape's jumpiness in that scene was because he doesn't know whether Harry will place him at the scene or not.  He would much rather be able to tell Fudge himself that he *was* a Death Eater, than to be placed at Voldemort's side again by Harry's testimony.  Also, Harry's testimony, true or otherwise, may hurt him in the eyes of Dumbledore, who is one of the only reasons he's not in Azkaban.

 

I had a very different interpretation of Snape's actions, and if it has been covered before, I apologize.  

I'm new to the group and I'm very happy to find people who love Harry Potter as much as I do!

Mel - who *really* doesn't want Snape to be completely evil.