JKR chat--Snape the coward or the one left forever?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 92431

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...>
wrote:
> 
> I think JKR was having a lot of fun with this one.  She knew she 
> would get one reaction the first time we read it and a different one 
> after we finished the book!  She really fixed us when she said some 
> of the fan sites had it right.  Of course, we all think she intended 
> our own interpretation. (Whatever that might be.)
> 
> Honestly, it could go either way.  And we don't know if Karkaroff is 
> hiding or has been killed.  We do know Snape is still alive.  We 
> know he has contact with Malfoy.  So, either he was thought of as 
> the coward and has been punished.  Or, he was the one LV said "I 
> think has left us..."  The "I think" leaves room for doubt.  
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Potioncat

bboy_mn:

Let's establish some reference points-

The question that was asked-

HarriFreak: Who is the 'one that never will return' deatheater? 

JK Rowling replies -> You have to work it out, but a lot of fansites
have got it right.

My first complaint is that who ever asked the question, asked it
wrong. They paraphrased the book rather than quoting it. If you want
an accurate answer, you have to ask an accurate question.

What the book actually says- (GoF Am Ed HB Pg 651)

"And here we have six missing Death Eaters... three dead in my
service. One, too cowardly to return... he will pay. One, who I
BELIEVE has left me forever... he will be killed, of course. ...and
one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already
reentered my service."

For each of the items listed, there are several possible suspects, but
I think we are wiser to look at the most likely and logical suspects.

"One, too cowardly to return..."

We see no evidence that anyone has ever considered Snape cowardly. Of
course, one could say the Snape was afraid to return to Voldemort, but
when Dumbledore sends him off near the end of the book, Snape goes
without hesitation. 

Even if we look at Snape through Voldemort's eyes, it's difficult to
see him as a coward. Karkaroff, on the other hand, struck me very much
as a coward. He sold out other DE's to save himself. While Snape is
aware and calm, Karkaroff is very freak out and nervous about the
return of the Dark Mark on his arm. All hints, clues, and subtext
including Karkaroff's flight as soon as the Dark Mark burns on his arm
mark him as the coward in my book.


"One, who I BELIEVE has left me forever..." 

Snape is living and working with Dumbledore, and has been doing so
since Voldemort's downfall. There is every indication that he has had
no further involvement in the Dark Arts. Indeed to all, he appears to
be a reformed DE, and therefore, he seems the most likely to have
'left ME forever'. The implication is that Snape has gone from the
'Dark' to the 'light'.

Karkaroff, on the other hand, has fled, but he has not abandon the
Dark Art. He ratted out some of his fellow DE's to save his own skin,
then ran away when Voldemort returned. That doesn't sound like 'left
ME forever'. While possible, that seems a very odd choice of words to
describe what Karkaroff did. 

I want to point out another thing, Voldemort used the word 'believe',
it's open to interpretation but, to me, that indicated and element of
doubt. Very much the same as saying, 'One, who I think might have left
me forever'. This element of doubt leave an opening for Snape to
return to Voldemort with a good explanation and Malfoy to vouch for
him, and stand a chance of being taken back into the DE's.

I firmly believe that Voldemort sent Snape to Dumbledore to become a
spy. Snape arrives at Dumbledore's with apparently valuable
information that Voldemort has allowed Snape to reveal. This gets
Snape in with the good side so he can spy for Voldemort.

This explains a lot. It explains Voldemort's element of uncertainly
because it's unclear whether Snape has left, or whether he is just
doing the job Voldemort sent him to do. It explains how Snape could
have given all appearances of a trator to the cause, yet still manages
to associate comfortably with DE after Voldemort is vanquished. And,
most important of all, it allows Snape a way back into the DE's now
that Voldemort has returned. All Snape has to do is convince Voldemort
that his true allegiance hasn't wavered; that all he was doing is
playing his role of a spy. 

Of course, very soon after being sent by Voldemort to join Dumbledore,
Snape really does see how hopeless and pointless it is to support
Voldemort. So, he truly does join Dumbledore's side. This really gives
Dumbledore his most perfect spy, a spy that has free and open access
to both sides. 


"...one, who remains my most faithful servant, who has already
reentered my service."

We could speculate that this could refer to several people. Perhaps,
it refers to Bagman, who we know was once suspected of being a Death
Eater. But consider how minor Bagman's role is compared to Crouch
Jr's. Throughout the story and at it's resolution, Bagman's focus is
completely goblins, gold, and gambling. 

On the other hand Voldemort has gone to great lengths to get Crouch Jr
onto the Hogwarts grounds and working on his behalf. Considering what
a major player Crouch Jr is in the story, I don't see how this could
refer to anyone other than him. True, it's possible it refers to
someone else, but while possible, I find it highly unlikely.

So, based on how they are portrayed in the story, logic leads me to
the most LIKELY conclusion-

Coward - KarKaroff ... because we know he is, and we know Snape is not.

One who left ME - Snape ... Without evidence or assurance, Voldemort
assumes that Snape has left his service. With evidence and Malfoy
vouching for him, Snape has a way back in.

faithful servant - Crouch Jr ... how could it be anyone but Crouch Jr?
Given the strength of his role and his own statement during his
confession, it must be Crouch Jr.

Yes, other interpretations are POSSIBLE, but are they LIKELY?

Just a thought.

bboy_mn