Why didn't Severus reveal the Prank? (Was: How did Sirius lure Severus...)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 106978

Carol wrote:
I think Neri is on the right track here, but I would add that
Severus' fear of humiliation is probably the crucial factor. I think
Dumbledore probably pointed out to Severus that if he revealed what
he knew, not only would the whole school (and probably the WW) know
that he had been tricked by Sirius Black, they would know that his
life had been saved by the even-more-hated James Potter, to whom he
now owed a life debt. <snip>

Carol, waiting to hear from Kneasy and Neri on the humiliation portion
of this theory.


Neri:
I find these back-and-forth Snape debates rather tedious and 
pointless, but if asked for my opinion I have no problem supplying 
it ;-) I think the humiliation part probably played a part here, but 
I don't think it was a central part. IMO it's a question of whom do 
you believe. We are given here two very different stories regarding 
Snape's feelings about the "prank", James and Harry:

DD's story:
-------------------------------------------
"Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself and Mr 
Malfoy. And then, your father did something Snape could never 
forgive."
"What?"
"He saved his life."
"What?"
"Yes 
" said Dumbledore dreamily. "Funny, the way people's minds 
work, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's 
debt 
 I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year 
because he felt that would make him and your father quits. Then he 
could go back to hating your father's memory in peace 
"
---------------------------------------



Snape's story:
---------------------------------------
Snape's sallow skin had gone the color of sour milk.
"And did the headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your 
father saved my life?" he whispered. "Or did he consider the details 
too unpleasant for precious Potter's delicate ears?"
Harry bit his lip. He didn't know what had happened and didn't want 
to admit it — but Snape seemed to have guessed the truth.
"I would hate for you to run away with a false idea of your father, 
Potter," he said, a terrible grin twisting his face. "Have you been 
imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you — 
your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on 
me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got 
cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he 
did. He was saving his own skin as much as mine. Had their joke 
succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts."
Snape's uneven, yellowish teeth were bared.
---------------------------------------


These two stories certainly don't agree. They can be reconciled in 
the level of the details, perhaps, but not in the level of Snape's 
feelings and motives. DD says Snape feels he is in debt to James even 
10 years after James' death. According to Snape's story, he believes 
it was James "and his friends" who played the joke on him in the 
first place. He doesn't even mention Sirius' name. According to Snape 
it was James' fault from the beginning, and James just got cold feet 
and was saving his own skin. If you believe this story, or even if 
you just believe that Snape believes it, there is no reason for Snape 
to feel in debt to James.

So, who's story do you buy? That's the question. I tend to buy DD's 
story for several reasons:

1. DD is not emotionally invested here. He talks "dreamily". Snape, 
OTOH, is extremely emotional (as always when he deals with Harry). 
Note "sallow skin had gone the color of sour milk", "a terrible grin 
twisting his face" and "teeth were bared". Snape would go to extreme 
length and not admit to Harry that he feels in debt to his father.

2. DD's story is more consistent with canon than Snape's story. For 
example, if Snape really believes his story, then you have this whole 
problem that was raised in the current thread: why would Snape keep 
quiet about the "prank" and why would he trust DD after that. But if 
you buy DD's version there isn't any inconsistency problem at all: If 
Snape felt in debt to James enough to try saving his son 10 years 
after James' death, then he certainly felt enough in debt to him to 
keep quiet and prevent James' expulsion immediately after the case. 
Another example: if you go by Snape's story it is very difficult to 
explain why he tries so hard to save Harry's life throughout SS/PS 
and yet (apparently) doesn't tell DD about his suspicions regarding 
Quirrell. If you go with DD's story it is very easy to explain it: 
Snape felt he would be quits with James only if he saves Harry by 
himself.

3. Generally, I believe DD is JKR's oracle in the book. He doesn't 
lie to us. He of course doesn't tell us everything (or it would be a 
much less interesting story) but when he does tell us something it is 
the truth.  

4. As a reader, DD's story appeals more to me. It is IMO more 
interesting. It makes Snape's character more complex and, in a very 
twisted way, more honorable.


Neri