Snape and the Edinburgh Festival

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 111117

Neri wrote:
 
< Sigune, I liked your theory. I think it is plausible and good 
character analysis. However, I still feel the need for a  
higher "Wow!" factor. We are waiting through six, possibly seven long 
books to hear the big secret: why is Snape on the side of good 
(always assuming he really is, of course). I expect some reward for  
the time and money ;-) . I also want a satisfying dramatic climax.  
Your Snape seems to be quite content with his current situation in  
life (aside of not getting the DADA job I guess). There isn't much  
conflict. James Potter and now Black are done for. There's nothing  
much that he misses. Deceiving Voldy is apparently some dangerous  
sport that he enjoys. So how do you see the climax? >


Sigune:

Ay, there's the rub. Once I've figured that out I'll write it into a 
fanfic :-).
No, seriously, I don't really know. I certainly don't believe in a 
great selfless sacrifice. As I have said in earlier posts, I'd really 
feel cheated if that were to happen. It would take some VERY 
CONVINCING writing on JKR's part to make me swallow that. Even if 
Snape still feels the burden of his Life Debt to James Potter, I 
figure he will do anything he can to avoid paying it by yielding his 
own life. If Life Debts worked that way, they would be silly - why 
save someone if they will someday have to die for it? And anyway, I 
see Snape as the Great Survivor, even though that places me in what 
is apparently a minority position.

As to his apparent contentment, I'm not so sure. He isn't rash; he's 
patient. He appears to me from canon as a man who knows his own 
limitations (logical, calculating); he will only bite off as much as 
he can chew. He can't fight Voldemort directly, so he helps the 
Order. But I do think he could take out *Malfoy* personally. I sort 
of like that scenario. - Anyway, what I set out to say was that he 
may have greater ambitions, but he won't hurry them. His greatest 
concern right now is to survive VW II. So, 'content with his current 
situation' - yes, insofar as he is forced to work within limits at 
this particular point in time.
[And I do think he's going through some sort of minor crisis right 
now, with Sirius dead. Two Marauders down in whose deaths he wasn't 
involved - so much for his vengeance. I pity poor Remus :).]

In fact - but I'm sure no-one will agree with me here - I would think 
it very much in character for Snape not to assist in the Astounding 
Dramatic Climax at all. He has missed out on all the finales so far, 
hasn't he? Clever of him. He is the man in the shadows. He can let 
the high-ups fight their big battle and then come to gather the 
strands that are left. How very Slytherin. Someone will have to take 
charge after the heroes have done their bit and end up dead or 
scarred. Someone competent and methodical and cautious, in the right 
place at the right time. There will be some appealing vacancies, I 
bet; it would be a pity if no-one were there to fill them up. *That* 
would be a triumph over all who have scorned him. 

Am I suggesting it will go like this? Not at all. There will probably 
be some Big Bang and I will end up all disappointed. And since I 
haven't got a Big Bang mind, I leave the theorising about those 
scenarios to other people. I will be very happy to read them.

Yours severely,

Sigune