Snape detractors unsophisticated?

[esmith222002]

No: HPFGUIDX 137779

I do believe that frustration at not being able to convince people 
that your POV is the right one had probably led to some of the 
comments.
As a Snape believer, I have always enjoyed the debates with the Snape 
detractors. In fact, whilst they have yet to change my mind about 
Snape, they have forced me to reassess some of my theories - for 
example Snape-DD premeditated death plan (for more see below). And 
that is the great thing about these arguments - each side finds the 
logical flaws in the opposing argument. It is up to us all to then 
counter these.
I will attempt to logically explain Sherry's many queries below, but 
these are only my opinion, and no more or less valid than anyone 
else's.
> 
1. Defenders claim that Snape's rage at being called coward is 
because he has just committed the noble brave act of murdering the 
one person in the world who trusted and believed in him.  As a 
detractor, I ask, and i have asked several times, how is it brave to 
murder a weak and sick old man?   
2. As for the Dumbledore was dying argument, again, there is no 
actual canon that says definitively Dumbledore is dying from the 
poison in the basin in the cave.  
3. As for canon on the detractor side, several of us have said that 
from all we know of Dumbledore, over six books, we believe it is 
absolutely out of character for Dumbledore to ask anyone to commit 
murder.  
4. Ok, the great Snape Dumbledore plan.  Again, my interpretation of 
Canon doesn't see a plan that would end up in Dumbledore's murder by 
Snape.    

OK, I will try one answer to cover all of these. We know from canon 
that the first Horcrux might have killed DD if it hadn't been for 
Snape's intervention. Before DD & Harry had noticed the Dark mark, DD 
was insisting that Harry fetch Snape and not Madam Pomfrey. To me it 
is therefore logical, that the second curse may have been equally 
deadly, and needed Snape's quick intervention. There is certainly 
evidence that DD was getting progressively weaker (sliding down the 
wall) when talking to Draco. We do know that DD has a plan to deal 
with Voldemort, and I think we all agree that DD believes that Snape 
is integral to the plan. If DD is dying at the tower, then on Snape's 
arrival (if he is good Snape) there are 2 choices. No.1 Snape fights 
all the DE's which might then give him the chance to help DD, but he 
will be revealed as DD's man. No.2 What if DD conveys that he is 
dying, and is willing to sacrifice himself to keep Snape's secret. 
IMO, this is Euthanasia, not Murder. A subtle difference, but IMO, a 
perfectly plausible one.

As a Snape believer, the problems that I cannot answer satisfactorily 
yet are; 
Why does Snape make the Unbreakable Vow? The detractors have nearly 
convinced me that a death plan is a bit far fetched, so why commit 
yourself to helping Draco? My only answer is that the first curse was 
going to kill DD anyway - but that then leads back to a death pact. 
The events at the end were too unpredicatble for me to totally 
believe that.


5. in OOTP, as has been pointed out by several detractors, Dumbledore 
admits he had a plan that went all wrong because he failed to inform 
Harry.  So, please, explain to me,why, why, why, would Dumbledore not 
inform Harry this time around?  

I think the Snape believers, regard Snape as integral to the eventual 
downfall of Voldemort. He is the double agent. Even the Snape 
detractors must admit that if (a huge stress on the word if) Harry 
knows about this, there is a chance that VOldemort might find out 
too! 
 
>   I don't know what the pleading is, 

For us Snape believers this a huge admittance. There is no 
explanation (that I have read) from Snape detractors that explains 
this. Yes our explanation requires you to believe that DD would allow 
Snape to kill him - but it is possible!

I would like to finish by saying that it is still possible that I am 
wrong. Snape is a sadistic, unpleasant man - I still can't believe 
that he was upset when he didn't manage to kill Neville's toad with 
the shrinking solution. There are often times when he betrays a 
resentment? for DD. He is very excited about the prospect of Sirius' 
exposure to the Dementors. 

However, the big question for me is - Do you believe DD when he says 
that Voldemort's interpretation of the prophecy is the greatest 
regret of Snape's life. I do - and due to his hatred of James that 
has always led me to believe that Snape has some sort of connection 
with Lily.

So for me, Snape in a nutshell... Unhappy childhood, bullied at 
school, unhappy as a DE. He also now seems committed to a plan that 
will help Harry Potter, of all people, to defeat Voldemort. His 
resentment for the way his life has turned out is huge, and he takes 
it out on everyone he can. But in the end, some connection with Lily 
is the reason Snape fights for good!!

Brothergib