Malice and Ulterior Motives

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 138785

>vmonte:	
Throughout the novel Snape is repeatedly described as having 
bat-like and spider-like qualities.  Bats are bloodsuckers, and 
arachnids spin webs to entrap their prey, once caught they are
sucked dry of their innards until only a husk remains.  These are
the perfect descriptions for a man who has laid out webs of deceit
all around him and uses those that he ensnares to achieve his 
goals.  
 
>Jen: I'm still not clear on what Snape's goals *are*! Voldemort 
pursues immortality, with a side-order of blood purification. 
Dumbledore pursues unity & freedom, putting all his eggs in the 
Harry-defeating-Voldemort basket. Harry is on his mission as the 
Chosen One, and seems pretty clear about what's next. Snape? 
Um...er...I guess his goal is defeating Voldemort. I'm not sure why, 
though. And boy would I like to know, because it would clear the air 
for Harry to get back to those Horcruxes.

vmonte again:
HBP P510-511
"It is Voldemort's fault that you were able to see into his thoughts, 
his ambitions, that you even understand the snakelike language in 
which he gives orders, and yet, Harry, despite your privileged 
insight into Voldemort's world (which, incidentally, is a gift any 
Death Eater would kill to have), you have never been seduced by the 
Dark Arts..."

Why would JKR bring to our attention that any DE would kill to have 
Harry's gift?

>Vmonte:  
Snape's hand twitches and he pauses.  His hesitancy shows he
understands that he may regret this decision.  But he was backed  
into a corner.  Showing his intentions to be anything other than for 
the Dark Lord and the protection of his own, especially in front of 
Bellatrix would certainly have meant his death.  
 
>Jen: Now this part I can't agree with. Bella is out of favor with 
the Dark Lord. Narcissa has no clout because of Lucius' mistakes. 
Neither of the women are supposed to be there talking to Snape to 
begin with, according to Narcissa. Narcissa strokes Snape's ego with 
all the many ways he's the Dark Lord's favorite and when the DE's 
defer to him on the tower, it appears he does have some power in the 
ranks.  So what were the women holding over his head? Not much. 
*They* should have been worried he would turn them into Voldemort 
for treason. The UV wasn't completed, he could have turned the 
tables on them and thrown them out, saying he was going to report 
them to Voldemort.

vmonte:
But he didn't. Snape's vanity brought him down. Narcissa "in a way" 
manipulated Snape by stroking his ego. The spinner brought down by a 
black-widow spider! HA

>Jen: I'm really torn on this one. Dumbledore proved in OOTP that he 
believes the good of the community outweighs any one individual, 
including himself. I really believe Dumbledore trusted Snape to do 
the right thing until the very end: Save Draco, get the DE's and 
Fenrir the hell away from Hogwarts, and keep Harry from harm. Those 
three things would be more important to Dumbledore than his own life.
 
*But*, the big but, DD has much reverence for the power of love and 
an untarnished soul. You can't enjoy the next great adventure 
without them, I'd imagine. So no, I don't believe DD was pleading 
with Snape to AK him. And that's where I always run into a brick  
wall.

vmonte:
I remember Dumbledore's speech from OOTP. There he tells Harry that 
he basically loves/cares for him so much that his grand plan is 
flawed. I'll look it up later.

Vivian