Snape's Sacrifice (Was - RE: Dumbledore's Trust of Snape)

[Mev532]

No: HPFGUIDX 80654

Bohcoo:
> Wasn't it a very dangerous thing for Dumbledore to have given 
> Snape a residental Professor position with Harry, The Boy Who 
> Lived, around unless he was beyond a shadow of a doubt that 
> Snape wasn't a spy for Voldemort?
> 
> I would love to hear your theories as to what Snape could have 
> done to have earned this depth of trust from Dumbledore? 
> 
> Do you think this trust is misplaced? Do you really believe 
> Snape is a triple spy?
> 
> Do you think Snape is only safe on the grounds of Hogwarts and 
> in places like Grimmauld Place? Do you think he could ever even 
> go in to Hogsmeade?
> 
> If one of the Death Eaters came on Hogwarts grounds, (a likely 
> occurrence since many of them have children in school there) 
> could they harm Snape if his cover with Voldemort is blown?


A few of the previous posts have given explanations about how Snape 
proved himself by being a spy for DD or something about earning 
trust. I think the only thing we know for certain about DD's trust 
is that a startling life altering moment from the past will be 
dramatically revealed in one of the next books. Events like those of 
Neville's parents are the forces that shape characters in this 
series and I expect nothing less startling to explain DD's complete 
unwavering trust in Snape.

Ahh, but you asked for predictions. 

Ok, so here goes. 

I believe that Snape made a sacrifice so large for the order, and 
for DD, that DD finds it impossible to doubt his sincerity. What do 
I guess it was? Legilimency is all about emotional control so I 
think the only way Snape could fool LV, the second most powerful 
wizard in the entire world, was to agree to some sort of enchantment 
or process that would purge him forever of the emotions that might 
allow him to be truly happy, leaving only emotions like hatred, 
emotions that could be used as a mental shield and that LV would not 
find suspicious. The only times Snape seems happy is when people 
like Malfoy are rewarded (which I believe he really hates but acts 
this way to play the part, or perhaps he gets a grim satisfaction at 
playing his role so well, the kind of satisfaction you might acquire 
from enduring torture without submitting) and when he punishes 
people (which LV would not find suspicious from any of his death 
eaters). True, he advised Harry to purge his mind of ALL emotion to 
defend himself, but maybe that is simply an easier method or perhaps 
that method would form a barrier that would be obvious to an 
aggressor (thus unsuitable for a spy), or perhaps we simply don't 
know enough about Occlumancy yet.  
 
So, Snape has doomed himself to a purgatory or hellish existence for 
life so that hopefully the most terrible dark wizard ever seen could 
be defeated. 

I think this theory is properly dramatic, helps explain Snape's 
seeming constant misery, and I feel would inspire undying trust in 
anyone.  I don't have many of the books with me right now so I can't 
try to find textual evidence but I would love to hear other peoples 
opinions, criticisms, or theories.  Perhaps I forgot about a moment 
Snape IS truly happy or something of that nature. Thanks for reading.

Big HP Fan Dave