Man the canons Re: Snape vs. Sirius (was: Snape's Stubbornness)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 127316


Jen: 
> Alla asks, what in the world would make Snape actually listen 
> to Sirius, his sworn enemy? That's a fair question. Maybe as a
> first-year, like when Harry agreed to meet Draco for a duel, Snape 
> would be conned into doing something foolhardy. Why as a sixth-year 
> is Snape still compelled to act on Sirius' words? He can't possibly 
> believe Sirius has his best interests at heart! And Snape has a 
> choice after all; there's no canon indication Sirius literally 
> dragged him into that situation. 


SSSusan:
This is an excellent point.  Without absolving Sirius of any guilt -- 
because he WAS very likely guilty of trying to harm Snape -- Jen is 
correct that it certainly doesn't appear Sirius shoved Snape into the 
WW nor had any "hold" over him which would compel him to do go.  
Snape was 16 or so!  Why did he fall for it?  Why did he *choose* to 
do this?


Jen: 
> And it's not just the night of the Prank. Severus is somehow 
> destined to take on dangerous situations by himself when a bit of 
> planning and collaboration might serve him & others better. Like 
> taking on Quirrell by himself in Book 1, or going to the Shrieking 
> Shack in POA. Both potentially had dire consequences for quite a 
> few people. 

SSSusan:
Might I plug my idea of Narcissistic!Snape again?  :-)  This is 
*exactly* the kind of thing a narcissist would do, no?  Seeing a way 
to be the hero, perhaps?  Believing in his superiority or ability to 
handle things better than anyone else?  In the Shrieking Shack 
instance, perhaps it was Snape thinking, "If *I* can pull this off, 
if *I* can bring in Sirius all by myself, I'll be the hero, people 
will KNOW how special I am."  Again, it'd be about validation and 
building up the ego.


Jen:
> In trying to postulate why this continues to happen, you can't 
> overlook Snape's Achilles Heel--Curiousity.

SSSusan:
Of course, this is possible, too -- that Snape's just a Nosey 
Parker! ;-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan