Other Witnesses (was Snape's Liability/Snape's Loyalty (-long-) )

[LadySawall at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 100707

In a message dated 06/10/2004 4:59:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Stefanie 
writes:
My trust in Snape is a bit rocky. I want to believe that he's loyal 
because Dumbledore does and have it as cut and dry as that...but 
then again, Dumbledore trusted Quirrel who had LV growing out of the 
back of his head, Lockheart who ended up to be the worlds biggest 
fraud, and fake!Moody who, well, was fake.
---

Jo Ann:

Been looking for an opportunity to bring this up, and this seems as good a 
time as any.

I think we do have one other character witness for Snape, albeit a silent and 
circumstantial one: Professor McGonagall.

Reading through the books, it occured to me that though Minerva--who seems a 
good judge of character--rarely speaks out plainly against a fellow teacher, 
Harry sees plenty of evidence when she doesn't like, respect, or trust a 
colleague.  It doesn't seem to matter whether they're an established staff member or 
an outsider (witness Trelawney and Umbridge.)

However, we also see that she's quite willing to take the side of someone she 
considers a foolish fraud against someone she feels is a greater evil (i.e., 
when Umbridge went to sack Trelawney in OotP.)

Now compare that scene to the staff room scene in CoS, when Lockhart shows up 
late and Snape calls his bluff, suggesting he should go to the Chamber and do 
his DADA thing.  McGonagall jumps right in and backs Snape up, and the other 
Heads of House follow her lead without hesitation.

Throughout the stories, I remember a few situations where the House rivalry 
between Gryffindor and Slytherin has come into play between McGonagall and 
Snape, but I don't recall that she has ever said or done anything to indicate that 
she doubts his loyalty or trustworthiness, or even that she holds a 
particularly strong dislike for him.  And I doubt that knowing DD trusts the man would 
stop her from expressing her own opinion, in one way or another.

Indeed, most of the times we've seen Snape and McGonagall together at 
important moments, they've presented a united front--whether or not DD was present.

It proves nothing, but it's perhaps something to think about.

Jo Ann


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