Chapter Discussions: Chapter 4, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place

[godforharry]

No: HPFGUIDX 83939

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, eloiseherisson at a... wrote:
> <snip> 
> > 12)  Why does JKR make the point that Snape never eats at the 
> house?
 
Laura:

> This question raised in my head the extremely unlikely image of our 
> dear Sevvie joining his beloved friends in the Order at the family 
> table.  Yeah, right.  Can you see Snape consenting to take a meal 
> with the likes of Mundungus and Tonks?  That is, assuming he could 
> get past the idea of sharing quality time with Remus and Sirius.  
> Snape probably thinks that Molly is an airhead and Arthur is a 
> wuss.  And he and Mad-Eye have a little history too.  
> 
> I assume JKR put that little detail in to continue to raise doubts 
> about Snape's true loyalty to the Order and to further illustrate 
> his elusive charm.


It's a recurring plot device in old novels that he who is
plotting revenge on someone never breaks bread in that person's 
house. Indeed, even if two men are simply enemies, they are not to 
have a meal together.  That is reserved for a man's companions ("com" 
("with")) + ("panos" ("bread")).  This point is made in novels as 
various as Dumas pere's *The Count of Monte Cristo* and Zane Grey's 
*Riders of the Purple Sage*.  
If Snape _is_ plotting revenge against Sirius, or against the entire 
Order, he might not want to break bread with the Order in
Sirius's house.  If, on the other hand, Snape is on the side of
the angels, but is trying to convince Voldemort that he's a 
loyal Death Eater, then the refusal to break bread at Grimmauld 
Place is a good way to show Voldemort how bent on revenge against 
the Order he is.  Voldemort will get to know of Snape's fasts, of 
course.  He has his sources of information...
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