Snape's DE past

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 111175

>>Kneasy wrote:
> 
> Snape was a good little DE - then suddenly he wasn't. Not only 
that but he betrayed his friends. Because make no bones about it, 
they were his friends. These were the Slytherins he was running 
around with at school; these are his natural allies. Nobody in the 
Order likes him; nobody except DD really trusts him - so why is he 
in so deep in the anti-Voldy coalition?

Potioncat;
I think you make a good point.  These were friends.  And Malfoy 
doesn't know he isn't one anymore. One of the Sorting Hat's songs 
struck a chord when it said (memory here) in Slytherin you'll find 
your friends.  As we've seen them, Slytherins don't seem the 
friendship sort. Networking group perhaps.

But as far as the Order goes, Lupin certainly praises Snape a lot 
(OK, twice.) He comments on his potion-making skill and on his 
occlumency skill.  Both times it appears to be to nudge Harry to 
trust Snape.  (Although Lupin has no reason to trust him!)

And while I have the opinion that McGonagall enjoys the rivalry with 
Snape at school, that could certainly be up for debate. 

But I agree here, he would have to have an incredibly strong reason 
to associate with the members of the Order.

>>Kneasy:
>snip
> 
> I don't go much on the so-called 'Life Debt' obligation either. 
IIRC no such phrase occurs in canon - anywhere. It's an invention by 
the fans based on some of DD's flim-flam.
snip
> Much as Snape may dislike Harry (and I'm not totally convinced 
about that, either), he recognises that Harry is probably the only 
way to grind Voldy in the dust. 

Potioncat:
The entire debt to James/hates you because of James seems too 
contrived to work. So while he may not like Harry, I'd say there is 
something else there.  

But, I'd like to hear more of your thoughts that he may not dislike 
Harry. Does that at all connect to the idea that he's tough on Harry 
as a teaching method?  (Alright everyone, Snape is a teacher, but 
he's no educator.)For further information, see Baloo's style of 
teaching in Jungle Book...Kipling not Disney.

>>Kneasy:
> Snape wants revenge.
> He wants it so badly he can taste it.
> Now give me another possible reason for that lust for revenge.

Potioncat:
Neri, Sigune and others have come up with good lists of possible 
motives. But whatever it is, it has to be an intense reason.  
Someone argued against revenge because that doesn't indicate a moral 
reason.  But we don't know if his leaving LV is a moral reason. (JKR 
has warned us about him.)  

>>Kneasy: 
> JKR has stated previously that the marital status of some of the 
Hogwarts teaching staff will be revealed later. This leads one to 
suspect that such information is plot-sensitive. Who can you think 
of where this is likely to be an important revelation? snip

Potioncat:
Several times JKR has expressed surprise at anyone loving Snape.  
But the more I think of it, she doesn't say anyone didn't.  And she 
may be playing along. Certainly, Snape seems the most likely.  And I 
know in your view, love didn't have to play a part anyway.

Also, (memory again) LV says "one who I think has left me 
forever"...seems to indicate LV thinks that person had a reason to 
leave.

I think it was this thread where some discussed Snape's role in the 
final scenes...well, it isn't "Professor Snape and the Dunderheads" 
we're reading. We couldn't possibly learn as much about him as we 
want to (friend or foe)  He has something important to contribute, 
but as in the earlier books, he'll slip off the pages sometime 
before the end. (Hopefully to return to his dungeon.)

Potioncat who may have set the record for longest "me too" post.