[HPforGrownups] Re: WINDOW SILLS

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 80882

Salit:

> And why otherwise would he have risked his life (literally) running
> after Lupin when he knew he did not take his potion and that it
> was Full Moon?

He wanted to catch Sirius, and the thought that he would be proved right
about Lupin, too, was just too alluring.

That said: I fully believe that he had every intention of saving the
children. And I admire anyone who is ready to go up against someone you
honestly believe to be a dangerous, insane murderer *and* a werewolf about
to "go," single-handedly. He didn't *have* to come out from under the Cloak
before he took one of them out.

If I recall my canon correctly, Snape saw *Lupin* hurrying along the passage
on the Map. Not the kids. They were already off the Map, in the Shack (which
is not on the grounds of Hogwarts). Snape went in pursuit of *Lupin.* He
only realized the children were involved at one of two points: when he found
the Cloak at the foot of the tree, or when he actually entered the room.

I'm inclined to believe it was when he found the Cloak, because I think he
probably discovered that James had one in their school years. However, he
could have just found a handy tool, and only understood it was Harry's
through James in listening to Lupin.

In any case, it's pretty clear in canon that Snape didn't go charging off to
protect the kids; he went charging off to catch him a werewolf and a
murderer and be proved right to Dumbledore, after all this time Dumbledore
had insisted on not *listening* to him about this.

> I don't know how much of the prophecy Snape knows, and I think he
> is very conflicted on Voldemort. He is clearly terrified of him,
> but he speaks of him in reverence, names him the "Dark Lord" like
> the DE's do. His allegiance with the good side hinges on only two
> things I think - loyalty to Dumbledore and that unexplained (as yet)
> commitment to Harry's safety. I don't think that he genuinely
> believes in the "good" side - it's these two commitments that are
> keeping him there. Once Dumbledore dies, will Snape's allegiance
> change? I am not sure of the answer. I can see his commitment to
> protecting Harry tested against his DE's old binding and his hatres
> of him. Maybe that was why JKR had Lupin attend the post-pensieve
> conversation - to tip the scales in Snape's mind, by giving him
> evidence of Harry's real feelings on the subject?

But we don't know if that conversation ever happened. I am inclined to
believe it didn't; given Dumbledore's summation to Harry of the reason Snape
discontinued the lessons. Dumbledore does many things, but gloss over the
causes at the heart of things (when he's in an explaining mood) is *not* one
of them, and I doubt he'd have failed to mention the pensieve incident more
directly.

That said: I think you're right. Like Lupin, I think that to Snape,
Dumbledore's trust has meant everything. The memory of it may be strong
enough to hold him to his course, should anything happen to Dumbledore; my
take on Snape is that he has a very strong (if individualistic) streak of
honor in him and will keep a promise he has made. Partly because of the
bitter and grudging way he interacts with Harry. He already *is* keeping his
word to someone, and hating every minute of it, and doing it because he said
he would.

I think that streak of honor is key: if he is indeed the "one who has left
me forever," then I believe Voldemort knows that Snape left because he,
Voldemort, stepped over some line in Snape's code and Snape is inflexible.
If Dumbledore trusts him, I believe it is because he, Dumbledore, knows that
Snape will hold to that honor and his word, because he is proud, stubborn,
and inflexible.

All I don't know yet is *why,* what epiphany took place to shift Snape. And
I still think it has to do with Lily.

~Amanda, Snapologist