[HPforGrownups] Still wondering why Snape trusts DD! (was: James the Berk?)

[Dolies]

No: HPFGUIDX 106440

--- cubfanbudwoman <susiequsie23 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> SSSusan:
> I'm sorry, but I don't think the reference to a debt is enough to 
> explain it.  I think Kneasy's right--there has to be a REASON why 
> Snape, who was surely profoundly disappointed & angry that DD didn't 
> punish the Marauders after the prank, DID end up trusting DD enough 
> to return to his fold.

I see the reason Snape trust DD as something very fundamental and
basic: because DD trusts him. It's a gut feeling I got when in GOF when
Snape was confronted by fake Moody, Snape retorted fake Moody's
accusation with a blunt "Dumbledore trust me!"  (reminds me OOTP's DD
shutting up Harry's accusation with "I trust Severus Snape"). That just
do not feel like the type of bond that suggest any debt or bargain.
Sometimes it is just that pure and simple. JKR revealed a little in
recent chat that Snape gave DD his story and DD believes it. That "DD
believes it" might be the IT that turns Snape completely around and
wanted to work for someone who, despite his past sins, is willing to
trust him.

It goes along well with Snape's redemptive patterns. As a bitter and
lonely sinner who doesn't  have much love and trust in his life, DD's
trust is the kind of motivation that kept him going in struggling to
doing right (=to redeem his past). DD is the only person who's willing
to believe in the best of him, his ability and his worth (while the
world are all like Harry, who refuse to see him besides ESE), and that
saids a lot to somebody who is still haunted by the baggage from the
past, who is still struggling with his own demon (my guess on why DD
won't give him DADA) and has so much insecurity and hate bottled up
inside.  Maybe it's just my wishful thinking, I see the theme of DD's
trust (of Hagrid, Lupin, etc.) as one of the ongoing themes of the book
and I hoped for a positive, powerful and rewarding conclusion. There's
just something very powerful about DD's trust. 

D.