What's in it for Snape? Finding motive...

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 97171

vmonte at y... wrote:
> > What motivates Snape?  Is he really working for the Order, 
> > Voldemort, or himself? Is he good, bad, or neither? 
> <snip>
> > Harry is capable of having friends, yet, Snape cannot.<<
 
> Pippin:
> Why do you think Snape has no friends? He seems to be on  
> good terms with Filch,  Dumbledore and McGonagall. 
<BIG snip>

Vmonte:
> > Here is my problem with Snape.  I find it hard to believe that 
> > knowing what we know about him that he is working for either 
> > Voldemort or DD.  He seems to have contempt for both sides.  
> > He also  craves recognition (obvious when you read PoA). 
 
Pippin:
> Snape has loads of contempt for Harry, but that doesn't equal 
> contempt for Dumbledore. Sirius had contempt for Snape, for 
> example, does that mean he wasn't sincere in his support of the 
> Order or his desire to see Voldemort defeated?

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
I know it's a no-no to do a "me, too!" post, but I just have to 
reiterate both of Pippin's points here.  

First, I absolutely *do* think Snape has friends.  Whatever his 
relationship w/ Lucius Malfoy now, I do believe they were once truly 
friends.  I also believe that McGonagall's "oh, dear" references 
to "enduring Snape" when Slytherin wins at Quidditch shows that they 
are on very good terms.  Same thing w/ many, many remarks that DD 
makes...and that infamous vulture hat scene where DD, I believe, is 
gently teasing Severus, not really being nasty to him. Just because 
Snape bullies his students and seems to show little interest in 
students in general [not *that* uncommon a trait for some adults, 
eh?], I would not equate that with a lack of friends among adults.  
He certainly has his share of people he loathes, and equally as 
certainly he's not a huggy, lovable bear of a friend, but I can see 
him being on quite friendly terms w/ many of his colleagues.

Second, and kind of similar to the above students vs. adults thing, 
I concur w/ Pippin that Snape's contempt for Harry isn't something 
to be equated w/ contempt for DD.  DD has clearly earned respect and 
loyalty from Severus.  I don't see any contempt for DD.  In fact, at 
times when Snape disagrees w/ DD, or is disappointed w/ how DD 
handles things [not expelling Harry & Ron after the Ford Anglia 
thing; considering Harry innocent until proven guilty after the Mrs. 
Norris petrification], Snape seems to back down & hold his tongue.

As for the rest of your post, vmonte, I enjoyed it very much.  I 
think this is some of the stuff many adults really, really want to 
learn in books 6 & 7:  what does motivate Snape?  what is he working 
towards?  who is he working "for"?  Kids I've talked w/ kind of 
dismiss Snape.  My daughter, for instance, while finding him 
interesting, takes him at face value: he's just a mean, nasty 
teacher to her.  But me?  I can't wait to find out what makes him 
tick.

Siriusly Snapey Susan