How did Sirius lure Severus into the Willow? (was: James the Berk?)

[Brenda M.]

No: HPFGUIDX 105815

> > Neri wrote:
> > You forget one thing. James did run after Severus and saved his 
life. Snape belittles this in the Shack (in PoA), but we know that as 
late as SS/PS Snape had still considered himself in debt to James. So 
the shaken 16 yrs old Severus, who had just saw Death in the form of 
a full-blown werewolf and was dragged back by James, is likely to see 
> > it this way even more. Or perhaps it was DD who gently but surely 
> > pointed this to him, in the best of DD's style.
> > 
> Kneasy responded:
> But even if he did consider he owed something to James he owed 
> nothing to Sirius or Lupin, or DD come to that. He could tell his 
> tale and the solids would hit the fan, spattering everyone except 
> himself.
> 
> Small correction: it's DD who suggests that Snape's 'life debt' 
might be a factor in the way he feels about James. He uses it as a 
reason, an excuse, for Snape saving Harry from Quirrell's broom-stick 
hex, so that he could go back to hating James in peace.
> 
> Personally, I think this is some of DD's flim-flam; he's presenting 
Harry with a credible reason for Snape's actions, one that Harry will 
understand and accept; the more so since it makes James look good. I 
think it's more complicated than that. Remember - in PoA chap 14, 
Harry reminds Snape that James saved his life and Snape's reaction 
doesn't indicate any feeling of debt or forgiveness at all. He lumps 
all the Marauders together and suggests James only rescued him 
because he got cold feet, that James was primarily saving himself and 
his friends. Saving Snape was just a means to an end.
> 
> Snape never mentions a 'life debt', might never even consider it 
> applicable, since it was one of James's friends that put him in 
danger of his life anyway. The way he behaves in Shrieking Shack II, 
the estatic Gotcha! reaction; the revenge he can almost taste - "Two 
more for Azkaban" - is almost obscene. He's been waiting for this for 
a long, long time.
> 
> I see Sevvy as a vengeful type - he'd want his pound of flesh, to 
see his enemies humiliated. Somehow DD put the blocks on it.
> I'd love to know how and I'd love to know why Snape still trusts 
him. <<<


Brenda now:

I can think of a situation where DD had to put some sense to Snape in 
that DD had a power to reveal something of Snape that he didn't want 
anyone else to know. DD perhaps told Snape of the "benefits" he would 
get from keeping his mouth (or fingers) shut about Lupin. Maybe some 
HPFG members are right in that Snape is in fact Vampire!Snape -- and 
DD knows it, and strikes a deal with Snape (trying NOT to use the 
word 'blackmail' but in a nut shell, it was): "SSSnivellus (sorry, my 
bad) I have to be fair to all students. If I am to kick Remus out of 
school then I must do the same to you."

Or Snape could have been another orphan staying at Hogwarts 
throughout the summer (like Tom Riddle) and DD was about to take this 
away from him if Snape didn't listen to him.

As for Snape trusting DD -- I must take everthing as what it appears 
to be, at face value. He *is* the greatest wizard of modern time as 
considered by many, he is the only one who VM has ever feared, and he 
gave Snape a second chance. In Occlumency chapter of OoP, it sounds 
as though Snape fears DD even more than he does VM:

" 'Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard,' Snape 
muttered. 'While *he* may feel secure enough to use the name ... the 
rest of us ...' " (OoP, 470. UK -- emphasis in Italic changed to **)

Not to mention the cold, unforgiving and terrifying look DD shows 
when he is mad... I'm sure SNape got a blast of it himself...

I have always regarded Dumbledore as kind of "divine character" in 
Potterverse. A mortal character (with the human mischievious trait) 
who resembles God. He is, after all, (appears to be) omniscient and 
omnipotent, loving/caring/forgiving, eccentric, but expresses his 
wrath of madness towards those who have been given enough chances.

JKR says DD's voice is hers in the books and as the *creator* of 
Potterverse -- similar parallel...

Brenda