What's wrong with being bad ?

[elfundeb2]

No: HPFGUIDX 102063

Stefanie: 

I have a theory about Snape's possible actions in the 
> past, but a canonical action that you didn't discuss is Snape's 
> actions in the Shrieking Shack in PoA. Snape had bound Lupin and 
was 
> brandishing a wand with 
> "Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.
> 'Give me a reason,' he whispered. 'Give me a reason to do it, and 
I 
> swear I will.'" (PoA 19)
> 
> In essence he incapacitated Lupin and was threatening (possibly 
> lethally) Sirius. And if Harry and Hermione hadn't used the Time 
> Turner to stem the consequenses of his actions? Sirius would've 
been 
> kissed and Lupin may've either been terminated as a rogue werewolf 
> or kissed as well. Snape wanted that to happen ("Two more for 
> Azkaban tonight" "Vengeance is very sweet" "They'll be very 
pleased 
> to see you, Black... pleased enough to give you a little 
kiss" "I'll 
> drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a kiss for him 
> too" [PoA 19])
> 
> Snape knew nothing about the Time Turner thwarting these plans -- 
as 
> far as he knew, Lupin and Sirius would be "dealt with" with 
> consequenses he was prepared to accept. Even though these didn't 
> come to pass, Snape voiced them all. He had thought about them. He 
> thought the were going to happen and was pleased with the thought.
> 
> Taking two lives into his own hands to end them? Is this excusable 
> as "dark leanings" within his rights? We hardly exuse Voldemort 
for 
> them.

Did Snape actually take anyone's life into his own hands?  He 
threatened Sirius and Lupin in the Shrieking Shack, but there's no 
canon evidence that he would have carried out those threats.  What 
he actually does is to ask Sirius to "Give me a reason" to do him 
in.  It's clear that what he intends to do is to take Lupin and 
Sirius up to the castle and turn them over to the authorities.  And 
since Snape doesn't have all the information the reader has, it is 
exactly the right thing to do.  Sirius *is* a fugitive, there's a 
manhunt out there for him, and Snape has absolutely no evidence that 
Sirius is innocent, and the circumstantial evidence suggests that 
Lupin is in cahoots with him.  He does taunt Sirius about the 
Dementor's kiss, but that's just rubbing it in their faces that he's 
finally caught them up to something for which they will be richly 
punished.  Sirius would have done exactly the same things if their 
positions had been reversed.

Then, later, when Snape regains consciousness and there are no 
witnesses, he has his golden opportunity to do what he will with 
Sirius.  But what did he do?  "He was conjuring stretchers and 
lifting the limp forms of Harry, Hermione, and Black onto them.  A 
fourth stretcher, no doubt bearing Ron, was already floating at his 
side.  Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved them away 
toward the castle."

He did exactly the right thing, I think.  At least based on the 
evidence he had before him.

Debbie