Snape's hidden plan?

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 136189

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lealess" <lealess at y...> wrote:

> Let's assume Snape set out to eliminate the Big Two, but had to wait 
> until Dumbledore was weak enough and Harry was trained enough to take 
> on Voldemort.

I think that Snape is more of an oppotunist, but it is entirely
possible that he was party to the trap with the poison otion that
needed to be drank to get the fake Horcrux. Frankly I would not put it
past him. As one of the 3 top potion makers we know of (Slughorn and
Voldemort being the other two) he is a suspect by default.

> Is Snape acting as though he is actually trying to take over the 
> wizarding world?

Wishing to be the top guy does not necessarily imply making concrete
plans for the day after...

> (1) Where is he building his base?  Does he have followers, like 
> Dumbledore and Voldemort do?

He would be foolish to even try to build a base while Dumbledore and
Voldemort are still around. It would do nothing but lead them both to
focus on him. Much better to take on from within. Notice that he
managed to build himself a top level position in both organizations in
a remarkably short time, by essentially convincing both camps that he
is firmly on their side and has valuable inside information from the
other side to give...

I agree that Snape is not a military/political leader in the way that
Voldemort and Dumbledore are. This does not mean he does not wish to
be on top. He wants people to respect and fear him at this point.

> (2) Where has Snape tried to exert control over anyone else 
> (successfully, not symbolically) before?  Has he been shown to use 
> Imperius, Obliviate, or other mind-control techniques?

He has expert knowledge of at least one Unforgivable Curse which
suggests that he must have used it before (perhaps on those poor
flies? :-)). He was/is a top level Death Eater. Ergo it is a given
that he must have performed nasty stuff. Voldemort keeps his followers
pretty busy from early on (standard technique of pimps and drug
dealers when introducing new youngsters into the trade is to immerse
them in it early on so they can't go back).

> Has he told 
> Big Lies?

Must have, or Dumbledore would not have been so deceived...

> Even the (mild and petulant) detentions given to Harry in 
> HBP try to offer suggestion, not mind-altering coercion, about his 
> father and godfather.

If his goals are what I suggested, he must be (and is) very protective
of Harry and willing to go out of his way to teach him more, despite
hating him. He has to get him shaped up to defeat Voldemort while
leaving enough vulnerabilities that he can exploit later, knowing
Harry so well.

> And if he wanted to get the truth from Draco, 
> couldn't he have given him Veratiserum?

Rowling had an explanation on why they don't often work. Check her
website.

> (3) Who fears Snape?  If Bellatrix and the group in the Astronomy 
> Tower are any indication, the Death Eaters respect him, but might not 
> follow him out of fear.  Even Wormtail listens in at doors in Snape's 
> own home.

Again, what he wants and what he gets are two different things. That
he wants to be feared and is not will only make him more dangerous. I
also believe that killing Dumbledore will give him that status among
the DE's and the general population.

> (4) Who loves Snape? enough to follow him.

Voldemort does not seem to have any problem getting followers and
somehow I can't imagine any of them actually love him!

> (5) If there's a void created by a subsequent death of Voldemort, 
> would Snape be able to step into it?  Who would welcome him?

Again, you are applying logical thinking from the outside. The
question is not whether he can step into it but whether he wants to or
thinks he can.

> What 
> position does he hail from?  He is not Minister of Magic, or anything 
> seemingly above the fray.

Neither are Volemort or Dumbledore... Anyway, he wants to lead the bad
guys, not the good guys. Somehow I don't think that being Minister of
Magic is such a recommendation with them.

> He's killed the beloved Dumbledore.  
> Voldemort will be dispatched in some manner in due course.  Will the 
> followers of the Big Two roll out the welcome mat for him then?

He can't get both sides to follow him, of course. He's casted his lot
with the DE's. Where do you think killing Dumbledore and disarming
Harry can put him in their eyes, when Voldemort himself failed to do
either one. Snape had better be careful that Voldemort does not
eliminate him as a threat next!

> (6) What about Harry?  Isn't he the "and a Half" after the Big Two?  
> Snape would have to defeat Harry, or his followers, assuming there is 
> no Unbreakable Vow binding Snape from ever harming Harry.

Only after Voldemort is defeated. For now, he is very careful not to
harm him in any way...

> Does he 
> seem to be anticipating the day he faces Potter?  He's been pretty 
> easy on him so far, not as psychologically intimidating as I would be 
> if I wanted to throw an opponent off guard for a future fight.

And he knows Harry better than any one else, having explored his mind
thoroughly during the Occlumency lessons, curtesy of Dumbledore's
trust... He thinks he can defeat him as he knows his weaknesses and
how to goad him (witness their duel at the end of HBP where Harry was
traunced).

> all evidence points 
> to Snape being someone who ultimately lets others determine the 
> course of their own lives, hoping they will leave him the hell 
> alone.  I do not see him as a ruler, even with the Half-Blood Prince 
> moniker.

I don't see him as a leader but any tyrant can become a ruler if he
can gather enough strength under him. Right now he is in a very good
position. The former top players are pretty much out - Malfoy Sr.
messed up terribly and Bellatrix is a mental basket case.

Salit