Snape, A Murderer? (Was: Re: Is Wormtail an Occlumens or an open book?)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 95383

Sigune wrote:
> 
> Both Karkaroff and Snape ended up in education; is this a 
> coincidence? My guess (but it *is* a pure guess) is they might have 
> functioned as something like "Research DE's" - a DE think-tank or 
> something. Or does this sound completely crazy?
> Hm. My fancy running riot, I suppose :).
> 
> Just another thing:
> Does Karkaroff strike anyone as a particularly competent wizard, in 
> the sense of his being a 'practical magic' person? We know from 
Krum 
> that he didn't even steer the Durmstrang ship; he let his students 
do 
> it. Is that because he can't do it himself, or because he won't?
> 
> No-one responded to my "DE-competence-question", so here I launch 
it 
> again: if Karkaroff can't steer the ship, maybe also he isn't 
> powerful enough to cast Unforgivables. And if he didn't use 
> Unforgivables, that might explain the Wizengamut's relative 
leniency.
> 


 Potioncat:
I think you've brought up some good points. Karkaroff was in jail for 
being a DE.  But you're right he either never performed an 
unforgivable curse or was never caught doing one.  We can assume 
Malfoy performed them and was probably charged with doing them, but 
got off on imperio.   

And we have seen a wide range of skills among the witches and wizards 
in the WW, and it would follow that there would be a range within the 
DE's. So I'm sure LV used them according to their powers.  But I 
suspect there are other ways of killing and torturing than the 
unforgivables. (I don't want to think too far here.)

You brought up an interesting point about Snape and Karkaroff being 
in education. I always assumed Snape was only at Hogwarts because of 
his relationship with DD.  But maybe, in spite of opinion of his 
teaching skills, it's what he wants to do.  

It really is hard to understand how Karkaroff became a headmaster 
with his background.  Is it possible that if you get off for giving 
information, your record is cleared?

It seems reasonable that Snape and Karkaroff either attended Hogwarts 
together (Although I get the feeling that Karkaroff is a good bit 
older) or they worked together as DE's.  He's the only adult Snape 
calls by first names.