Snape's motivation (was:Re: Hermione and her time -turner and a Snape theory)

[donna_immaculata]

No: HPFGUIDX 58478

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, eloiseherisson at a... wrote:
> JOdel:
> 
> >I've begun to wonder; if Black and Potter were their generation's Fred and 
> >George whether Snape may have been their Percy. And if that parallel goes 
> >more than skin deep, Dumbledore may have been very glad for a chance to have 
> 
> >a detailed private talk with this particular clever, prickly, upright 
> >Slytherin boy. After all, he knew he needed eyes and ears in the enemy camp.
> >
> >The Snape/Dumbledore "deal" may have been struck all the way back then, and 
> >Snape has *always* been on the "right" side. The testimony at Karkaroff's 
> >trial was damage control, not the whole truth.
> 
> 
> 
> I suppose you could be right. But I'll be very disappointed if you are! ;-)
> 
> Snape is arguably JKR's most intriguing, possibly her most three-dimesnional 
> character. He poses so many questions. Why does Dumbledore trust him? Why did 
> he leave the DE's? Why did he *join* the DEs in the first place? Why does he 
> hate Harry at the same time as apparently trying to protect him?
> 
> You are right. All these questions could be answered by Snape and Dumbledore 
> having cut a deal whilst Snape was still a student, by Snape having been 
> constantly in Dumbledore's service, his Death Eating a mere sham.

Hello there,

I fully agree with Eloise on the fact that Snape would lose much of his three-dimensional character if he had been a spy all along and never a Death Eater. BUT: Is there any theory why Sirius - of all people! - should say that he does not believe Dumbledore would ever had let Snape teach at Hogwarts if he had been a Voldemort supporter at some point in his life? (cf. GoF, chap. Padfoot Returns):

"... and I know Dumbledore trusts where a lot people wouldn't, but I just can't see him letting Snape teach at Hogwarts if he'd ever worked for Voldemort."

Now, we know that Sirius trusts Dumbledore deeply, but would his hatred for Snape not make him at least consider the matter? He pointedly defends his opinion when Ron confronts him with the fact that Moody (and Crouch) have searched Snape's office etc.

In the same context, Sirius says that Snape has never been accused of being a Death Eater, so we know he does not know everything (seeing as Karkaroff has accused Snape). But in saying that he does not *believe* Snape has ever worked for Voldemort, he merely states his opinion, not a well-known fact. And I think it's not a very *Sirius* thing to do, defending Snape.

Anyway, I would like whether there are any theories on this and whether this has been already discussed on the list. (I'm new, so I might have missed the discussion. In that case, I do apologise.)

Donna




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