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

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 95389

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...> wrot=
e:
> 
lots of snips
> I don't think I can justify this with canon, but somehow I don't 
> think Snape is a wizard of the Mugglebaiting/Mugglemurdering type. On 
> the other hand, I *can* see him use an Unforgivable on a fellow 
> wizard, 
>  
> NB: It has occurred to me that IF Snape's function among the DE's was
> to make potions and/or poisons, they would no doubt be put to evil 
> uses, which means that even if Snape did not administer them himself, 
> he at least shares a responsibility in the harm that is done. <snip>
> 
> Carol responds:
> For the record, I more or less agree with Sigune, having made some of
> the same points myself in previous posts. I think that LV puts his DEs
> to the uses that best suit their talents and his needs. Lucius likes
> being leader and has no qualms about casting any Unforgiveable Curse.
>> 
> Sigune wrote:
> <<How about if a Death Eater isn't *capable* of performing an 
> Unforgivable Curse? We know that magic is not just a question of
> mumbling a word or two and waving a wand. Casting a spell correctly
> involves serious training, combined with an inborn ability. Some
> wizards are simply more talented than others; some have more potential
> than others. So I wonder if there are spells some wizards simply never
> get done *because they just can't*.>> 
> 
 

I'm all for posters promoting their theories, but it does help if there is =
at 
least a smidgeon, a hint of canon backing to give them support. I'm afraid
that I can't find any to back the idea that DD is so pure and righteous tha=
t
he would never allow a killer to join his side in the war. 

Snape is my favourite character, but I have no difficulty in believing that=
 he
has killed on Voldy's orders. He is (or was) a Death Eater and you don't  g=
et
to be in that club by sending in 10 Butterbeer tops and paying £1.50. Oh no=
.
Regulus was tested and failed. What makes you think Snape wasn't tested
and passed? Seems entirely logical IMO. Voldy wouldn't want anyone in his
inner circle that hasn't proved their commitment. He wouldn't need to be a
DE to make potions for them ( why would they need potions at all?
There's no evidence that they have ever used any.) In fact, the inference i=
s
that Sevvy only specialised in Potions *after* he joined the Hogwarts staff=
.
It very definitely wasn't his first choice - DADA was - because that's what=

he was good at - the Dark Arts.

He started fairly young -  a little snippet that many miss is in the 'grey
underwear' scene; when attacked his throws a curse back at James and
opens a wound on his face that pours with blood. Not the sort of spell
that they seem to teach at Hogwarts. No, Snape would have little problem
with killing - in general terms anyway. His reaction in the Shrieking Shack=

confirms it - give him one excuse and he will kill. Reminiscent of a
reformed alcoholic fighting the temptation of a drink.

Voldy had lots of supporters of various sorts, but the DEs would be his
Praetorian Guard - the trusted elite who did exactly what he wanted.
There weren't all that many of them, we can tell that from what he says
in the graveyard, and it's reasonable to  assume that he only picked those
who deserved such an 'honour'. Regulus was killed but probably not by
Voldy - Regulus wasn't important enough for that distinction. So one of
the DEs did it. An everyday chore among evil wizarding folk. No big
thing, any DE could do it -  because if they didn't, they were next.

DD wouldn't have any qualms about accepting an ex-DE killer on to his
side so long as he was convinced that he could trust Snape from then on.
And he states (and so has JKR) that he knows Snape's reasons and believes
that he can trust him. DD is a war leader. Deaths are inevitable. Note that=

DD doesn't descend into paroxysms of grief when deaths occur; a few
sentences to the school after Cedric is murdered and mind games with 
Harry after Sirius snuffs it. Moody is a long-time friend and he's a killer=
.
Does DD look on him as a pariah? No. He did what was necessary.
If you fight a war you get your hands dirty; to pretend that somehow
it's possible to defeat Voldy and be able to avoid inflicting casualties
on the enemy is not credible. It wasn't in the last Voldy war, why should 
it be different this time? He has to win the war. Any other alternative is
not acceptable. And he will use whatever means are at his disposal that 
he thinks will work.

Snape seems to be extremely useful, perhaps even a key member of DD's
team. DD wouldn't tie his own hands together by being too fastidious
about what Snape may or may not have done in the past so long as he
obeys DD's orders in the future.

Kneasy