In defense of the Snape apologists :-)

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 136136

>I vmonte wrote:
If you recall Snape did not know that Quirrell was working for
Voldemort during SS/PS. Voldemort kept Snape in the dark.

Page 28, HBP, U.S. edition:

"I think you wanted to know why I stood between the Dark Lord and the
Sorcerer's Stone. That is easily answered. He did not know whether he
could trust me. He thought, like you, that I had turned from faithful
Death Eater to Dumbledore's stooge...As it was, I saw only greedy and
unworthy Quirrell attempting to steal the stone and, I admit, I did
all I could to thwart him."

Remember Snape had a cushy and safe job at Hogwarts while the other
DEs were stuck in Azkaban.

Page 27

"I had a comfortable job that I preferred to a stint in Azkaban."

houyhnhnm:

These are somewhat circular arguments. You have to assume that Snape
really is a Death Eater telling Bellatrix the truth in order to prove
that he really is a Death Eater. If he's lying to her then we don't
know whether he made the Quirrel/Voldemort connection or not. The
following passage from PS/SS is suggestive, though ambiguous.

"It happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed teacher looked past
Quirrel's turban straight into Harry's eyes--and a sharp, hot pain
shot across shot across the scar on Harry's forehead."

vmonte responds:
So you're not arguing that Voldemort did not tell Snape that he was 
attached to Q's head, your argument is that Snape figured that out--
and right at the beginning of school, the first night back no less!  
Did he forget to tell Dumbledore? Why bother setting up the traps for 
Voldemort? Why did he let Harry go face-to-face-to-face with LVQ? 
Seems like a lot of work went into protecting the stone, when all 
they had to do was fire Quirrell. If Snape did know that Voldemort 
was walking around the school during SS/PS wouldn't that go along 
with the idea that Snape is trying to bring down DD and Harry?    

>Mari:
2) Choosing to go after the trio to the shrieking shack, to protect
them from someone he believed was in league with Voldemort,
in PoA.

houyhnhnm:

Yes, it is a matter of interpretation. My interpretation is that
Snape's motives are always mixed. He is still trying to prove he
should have been Head Boy as much as he is trying to protect the
school or its students, but there is little evidence in the text to
prove or disprove this theory. Certainly, he shows no hesitation in
going after the dangerous lunatic who *he* believes betrayed the
Potters to Voldemort.

vmonte responds:
He is still trying to prove that he is head boy material? In his late 
thirties? How sad, yet probably true. This only confirms that he is 
only interested in himself, IMO.

>>vmonte:
Moody had already threatened to tell Dumbledore that Snape had it in
for Harry (I don't think that Snape knew that Moody was Crouch Jr.).
Snape probably felt that he had to prove his loyalty to Dumbledore.

houyhnhnm:

I don't even see a specious connection between these two occurrences.
Snape's showing fudge the dark mark is one of the strongest pieces of
evidence for Loyal Snape (I would not call him good). It was
unnecessary and against Voldemort's interest for him to do so.

vmonte:
Funny how Snape is perceived as the master legimens/occlumens but not 
one of his defenders will claim that Snape was aware that Crouch Jr. 
was playing the part of Moody in GoF. Even with that extended moment 
on the stairs where they both looked at each other without saying a 
word. Nope, they were just having a staring contest. I guess Moody 
won, and Snape went to bed.  


4) Alerting the order to what was going on in the Department of
Mysteries.

>>vmonte:
He took his sweet time didn't he? Funny how he never shows up to
anything. Where was he during the fight? Maybe he was afraid of
blowing his DE cover you say? He's the Potions Master no? He's got
all kinds of potions locked in his room doesn't he? And with all the
polyjuice that seems to be floating around Hogwarts you would think
that Snape would have some to spare for when he needs to go somewhere
in disguise. But I guess not.

houyhnhnm:

I admit that the timing of the events at the ministry is ambiguous.
There is just enough time for the DEs to have obtained the prophecy
before the members of the order arrive, had Harry and the DAs not been
so intrepid. On the other hand, if Snape really is a Death Eater
knowing how important the prophecy is to Voldemort, it is hard to
imagine that he would risk the failure of the mission. 

vmonte responds:
Snape is not on DD or Voldemort's side. He's the Half-Blood Prince!
A new breed of super villain!!!  :)

Harry - "The boy who lived"
Snape - "The boy who never became head boy"

Vivian