Did Snape work for Dumbledore from Day One?

[Sharon]

No: HPFGUIDX 118943


Nora:
> Make Snape have been on the side of the angels all along, having 
gone 
> to spy at Dumbledore's behest, and you take all genuinely messy 
> thematic meaningful potential BANG out of his story--not to mention 
> putting George and Diana out of a job.
> 
> It's too clean, too neat.  It means that Snape doesn't have any 
truly 
> deep guilt or responsibility, or really anything to be too sorry 
for--
> he was always working for the good guys.  It really destroys the 
crux 
> of the character (for me, at least), that he is something of a 
> penitent, having gone over to the Dark Side, and having returned, 
at 
> great risk to himself (as he switched sides when it looked like the 
> Dark Hats were winning).
> 

You're absolutely and totally right, actually.  Take away Snape's 
propensity toward evil and he suddenly becomes Dudley Do-Right with 
worse hair.

But my theory can still stand on its own merit - simply because DD 
*asked* Snape to join the DEs does not mean that possibly Snape would 
not have joined them eventually otherwise - nor does it preclude the 
possibility that while Snape was with them, he may have (temporarily, 
perhaps) been swayed to their line of thinking.

Remember, DD does not give Snape the DADA job for a reason.  As I 
don't have the books with me (I'm at work, currently), I can't give 
the exact quote (and I think it's from an interview with JKR anyway), 
but DD is afraid that the DADA position will bring out the worst in 
Snape.

If DD is worried about this, then obviously there is a part of Snape 
which is possibly more cruel/evil/vindictive than what we have 
already seen.

> Nora:
> Severus Snape is compelling, such as he is, because he has 
genuinely 
> done Bad Things, and is likely genuinely converted away from at 
least 
> some of the Bad Things--although you'll note per interview that 
there 
> are things Dumbledore won't let him do.  Compelling!Snape needs to 
> have struggled with himself and his own worst inclinations, as (I 
> think) he is still doing at the present in many regards.

His feelings and attitudes toward Harry being top of the list, 
certainly.


> 
> I suppose that this could be pulled off, textually.  It'd really be 
> something of a let down, I think.  Doesn't seem to mesh terribly 
well 
> with the general strain of JKR's commentary on the character.  

Nope.  But like you, I enjoy playing Devil's Advocate, and this is 
such a fun theory, it's difficult to dismiss so readily.


> Nora:
Some 
> people may not take such commentary seriously, but I tend to.  
Unless 
> someone can point out to me where she's lied to us so far. :)
> 

Lied, no.  Misdirected, yes.  Could this be another misdirection?  
Maybe.  It's worth considering, anyway.

--azriona