Why ole Snapey is(n't) a vamp (or old, either!)

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 88226

"hermione978"  wrote:
> Snape as a vampire? I have a hard time buying that one. 

Now me, Marianne:
Me, too, but just because there have been so many descriptions of bat-
like swooping that it seems just a tad over the top.  Plus, how would 
that advance the story?  Snape as another being looked down upon by 
wizard society, like werewolves, elves, giants, etc.?  It seems like 
overkill to me.

Hermione 978:
There has 
> been no evidence of this so far in the books. He is however 
> connected, at least in his past, to Lord "He Who Must Not be 
Named". 
> It was mentioned in the fourth book I believe that he bears the 
mark 
> of the Death Eaters.  Snape for whatever reason chose to desert the 
> dark side and come to the good. 
> 
> At the Quidditch World Cup many a Death Eater fled when they found 
> out about Lord He Who Must Not Be Named's return- out of fear from 
> deserting as well as cutting a deal with the Ministry of Magic for 
> their release and freedom if they repented and turned in other dark 
> wizards for the Azakaban prison. Perhaps Snape is one of those who 
> has made the deal with the M of M for his freedom. Perhaps he knows 
> something or has a connection a bit deeper to He Who Must Not Be 
> Named that has not been revealed yet in his activity.
> 
> Regardless, he is a former Death Eater, now one of the Order of the 
> Phoenix protecting Harry and keeping his activity confined to 
> Hogwarts as potions master.  In the books remaining that will come 
I 
> think that Snape will encounter He Who Must Not Be Named and 
> possibly killed for his regarded treason to the dark arts by 
turning 
> good.  I think we will find out why he was a Death Eater to begin 
> with and why he went good. 

I sure hope we get this info.  I'm not entirely convinced that Snape 
is good, just that he's chosen not to throw his lot in with Vmort and 
his merry band of DEs.  I'm betting that we will find out that Snape 
turned to the "good" side simply because he was smart enough to hedge 
his bets. As Phineas Nigellus says, "We (Slytherins) will always 
choose to save our own necks."  

No turning to the side of light because of unrequited love for Lily.  
No sudden epiphanies about the unholy abominations of DE beliefs.  
No, no, no.  Those are not nearly Snape-ish enough reasons to change 
sides.  I think old Sev was simply smart enough to have doubts about 
the wisdom of throwing in his future with some trumped-up dark lord.  
After all, had Voldemort won, his loyal henchmen would still have had 
to bow and scrape before him, kiss his ring or the hem of his robes 
and swear fealty to him.  Again, it doesn't seem to be Snape's 
style.  

I think Snape took the measure of Voldemort and was cunning enough 
and daring enough to start playing both sides against each other, and 
eventually decided he'd have a better chance at determining his own 
future and fortune if he sided with Dumbledore.

Which still leaves open the door for betrayal, for those of you who 
lean that way.  Here's Snape, who has been the loyal Potions Master 
for 14 years, even though he dearly wants to be the DADA instructor.  
Dumbledore never gives the position to him.  Snape is supposedly 
trusted by Dumbledore, seems to have as much authority as McGonagal 
within the school, yet he constantly seems to run up against 
Dumbledore's wishes.  He wants to be DADA professor, and isn't 
allowed.  He often seeks to rein in that reprobate, Harry Potter, and 
Dumbledore constantly rewards or encourages Harry's rule-breaking 
behavior. He agitates against Lupin's appointment as DADA professor, 
and seeks to cast doubt on Lupin's motives in PoA, and Dumbledore 
refuses to believe him.  He thinks he's earned an Order of Merlin 
with the capture of Sirius Black, and Sirius slips away.  And, now, 
although he's a member of the Order, there still seems to be this 
distance between him and the others.

If Snape indeed is still playing the part of double agent, I think he 
could very well decide to opt for Voldemort's side in the upcoming 
battle, especially if Dumbledore dies, and Snape believes that the 
only hope for the "good" side rests on the undisciplined, headstrong 
shoulders of Harry Potter, who, in Snape's eyes, is still no match 
for Voldemort.

Marianne