[HPforGrownups] Re: Sirius vs. Snape

[Silverthorne]

No: HPFGUIDX 99472

Back to Snape, he might be a great double agent. Perhaps the same 
properties that makes him a terrible soldier and commander also makes 
him a great double agent. But if DD has any sense, he mustn't put 
Snape in a position where other troopers should depend on him and 
trust him. It just won't work. It is not a question of loyalty, it's 
a question of trust. I hope I've managed to make the difference clear.



Silverhtorne

Great comparison, Neri, and I have to agree with the analysis as far as 'troops' go.

Although, if I may interject here?

Snape...is a spy. Not a soldier. Huge difference--it really is. Soldiers aren't really worried about having to sneak around anything (except the guys on the other side of the feild with the grenade launcher). Every move Snape has to do is a *sneak*, a misidrection, and at least partially a lie. And, although those qualities may be associated with Slytherin--in this case, it's a convienient comparison. Snape *Has* to sneak--he goes out in the open, the *main* mission (which ultimately is not Harry) *he* has been given is screwed.

His main mission--to spy on the DE. Rather hard to do when there's proof laying around that you are not exactly the person you're claiming to be (and in Snape's case, that would be a disagreeable git who 'belongs' to the DE).

There is a world of difference in the mind set, there really is--but that still does no make Snape any 'less' of a being--it makes him different.

As for abandoning the lessons--honestly, I think Snape came to the realization (while cleaning up his cockroaches), that it just was *not* going to work--Potter presses too many of his buttons, and he can't seem to stop pressing buttons right back...so...even in the military, I'm sure there's some allowances for people to appeal to the higher ranks and go 'Hey, I know this guy needs this, I know I'm supposed to do it, but if you leave us in a cage together, we'll kill each other and nothing will get done'. And even if that is not the case--well, Civilians *do* have that set up, and the smart ones *will* go and tell their higher ups there's a problem and another solution needs to be found...

Anyone ever consided that maybe he suggested to Dumbledore that maybe it was just to hot? And DD agreed?

Incidently, although the arguement is good for Sirius as to who folks would like beside them in a battle zone--honestly, and truly, I would choose Snape over Sirius--simply because since they both let their emotions get the better of them--Snape does it less often, and with *one* specific person more or less. So I already know what will set the guy off--I'd just keep his ass away from it in the battle feild if I could. Sirius....keeps finding new things to go off on. IMHO both of them would risk their necks for their friends/allies when the brass tacks were down--Sirius is just eaiser to pinpoint that way...

Ultimately though--I would rather go it alone than have either at my back--one is too much the spy--the other too reactionary to depend on on the battlefield. Although it's great in the movies when the soldier goes against his orders to 'save the day'--nine times out of ten in RL it will go badly...very badly...if you do that. And Sirius has a nasty habit of doing *exactly* that (not staying put when told to, not taking advice, reacting emotionally to situations). Both would need a lot of Basic training and control pounded into them before I would *really* trust either of their squirrelly asses...;)

Anne/Silverthorne


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