Snape

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 89658

Inge wrote:
<< Snape has been discussed to death on this group so probably this 
has been brought up at some point, too.

I just wondered if maybe the reason Dumbledore trusts him so much - 
could it be that the reason Snape became a Death Eater in the first 
place was by Dumbledore's request? That Dumbledore wanted a spy as 
close to Voldemort as possible and Snape was the best choise?
 
What would Snape have to lose by this arrangement? Nothing at all. He 
would have Dumbledore's unshared respect and trust and he would have 
a chance to prove him self worthy of it.
 
Snape was already hated and ridiculed by the students so it wouldn't 
be much of a difference to him to have them despise him as well. And 
they did.
 
I like the idea of Snape being sent in as a DE by Dumbledore. And if 
indeed this is the case - that only takes my admiration for Snape 
even higher.>>


Sigune thinks:
The more discussion of dear Severus, the better!!

I have never read a theory like yours before, and it doesn't sound 
bad to me. Only - I think there still needs to be a stronger motive, 
something that binds Snape and Dumbledore together and that we don't 
know yet. Would Snape simply want Dumbledore's respect so badly that 
he would just risk his life and everything else for it? 

It is quite clear that as soon as a person joins the DE's s/he has to 
be prepared to give up - well - everything: their opinions, passions, 
ideals, physical integrity, even their movements are subordinated to 
Lord Thingy's wishes. That, it would seem to me, is quite a LOT to 
lose: your entire freedom.
The Dark Mark is one of the means by which Thingy exerts his control: 
I think it is no coincidence that Snape is especially sensitive to 
the mentioning of Voldemort's name, even to the extent that it makes 
him really angry, a reaction that is not quite the same as Ron's (and 
other people's) whincing. And the Mark is permanent.

I mean: joining the DE's for no deeper personal motives than just 
earning the respect of the headmaster of the school you attended 
seems a bit - drastic. There must be something else, because Snape 
had every reason to resent Dumbledore in the past. Why hasn't the 
good Headmaster acted more vigourously against Potter and Black, who 
bullied young Snape so cruelly? After the Prank he simply asked Snape 
to keep silent. And there is still the fact that Dumbledore isn't 
really sympathetic towards practitioners of the Dark Arts, whereas 
Snape is passionate about them.

I think that one reason why Snape may have taken to Dumbledore is the 
Headmaster's philosophy of Choice. It is clear that Lord Thingy 
offers no choice to anyone: he bullies his followers into obedience 
or has them killed. This is not something you'd think would agree 
with Severus Snape. *AARGH* - so why did he join in the first place?? 
I think it must have been so he could learn more Dark Arts. But then 
he found himself bullied /yet again/ and went over to Dumbledore - by 
choice. He became a spy because there is no way anyone can walk out 
on Lord Thingy and keep their life.

I am really, really curious to know what that extra bit in the 
Snape/Dumbledore relationship is. It /is/ there - Dumbledore is, I 
think, the only person in canon whose attitude towards Snape can be 
called friendly and appreciative. He seems to be, also, the only 
person Snape really trusts. Only Dumbledore has insight into the 
Potion Master's thoughts and motives, and since Snape is an Occlumens 
that means he must have /told/ them to him.
Poor Severus, how horrid it must have been to him when he realised at 
the end of PoA that Dumbledore had fooled him... It was probably 
worse than seeing Sirius escape.

Yours severely,

Sigune