[HPforGrownups] Ultimate Slytherin

[Kathryn Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 144516

We have had a look at a few different Slytherins in the books and I 
think it gives us a basis for some comparisons.

Tom Riddle was a manipulative child. He manipulated his teachers, his 
head master, threatened the other children at the orphanage to get his 
way, plotted and planned years in advance the stealing of items 
necessary to him, and surrounded himself with a support structure. He 
recruited people of physical strength (Goyle and Co.), political power 
(Lucius), obsession (Bella), and intelligence (Snape?) in order to gain 
his ends. He thought far enough ahead to insert spys in rival groups, 
and used interference with Muggles as his leverage against the MoM. 
Voldemort is certainly cunning, sly, and has done whatever he deemed 
necessary to achieve his goals. He does not do well, when the planning 
falls apart and he is forced to respond to the moment.

Slughorn is seen only as an adult, but he is certainly manipulative. He 
also has built up a support group of people he has "collected" that can 
do things for him. He has also demonstrated the ability to plan far into 
the future in cultivating those who will be powerful or politically 
profitable. He has no problem calling in those favours, pride does not 
seem to be an issue. He is not prepared to risk himself standing up for 
anything. He chose to hide rather than take either side. It was made 
quite clear that he only accepted the post at Hogwarts because there was 
greater safety there. He was quite prepared to lie to Dumbledore when he 
provided the fake memories. He is also not a quick thinker and was of 
little use in an emergency when Ron was poisoned.

Draco, the youngest Slytherin also seems to show many of the same 
characteristics. He is also a planner and manipulater. We see him 
attempting to manipulate Snape. He also has a support group who perform 
tasks for him and provide protection. He is afraid of direct 
confrontation, but rather sets up circumstances in his favour such as 
challenging Harry to a duel and then reporting him to McGonnagal, and 
faking the pain of his injured arm to try to get Hagrid fired. In OotP, 
  he immediately inserts himself into Umbridge's good graces in order 
that he be given a position of power. He is also not very good at 
responding to emergency circumstances, such as being attacked by a 
headless Harry at the Shrieking Shack, being punched by Hermione, or 
being hexed several times on the Hogwarts Express. He did an excellent 
job of using the cabinet and getting the Death Eaters into the castle, 
but he had not planned past that part. He was unable to respond to the 
situation in the  tower with Dumbledore.

Snape, the most important Slytherin at the moment, does not follow most 
of the characteristics of the other Slytherins. He has no support group 
and does not cultivate any contacts. As a student he "hung out with a 
gang of Slytherins", probably for protection, but does not appear to 
have formed any close associations. The Order members had no close 
contact with him. The other Death Eaters are very wary of him. Narcissa 
stated that Lucius was his friend, but we don't see Snape as being very 
supportive of Lucius after the Ministry fiasco.
   We don't see any examples of long range planning in the Snape story. 
He seems to get pulled into things, like the Death Eaters, and, 
according to Dumbledore,panic over what was going to happen to the 
Potters. We do see lots of examples of emergency response. When Harry 
was being hexed by Quirrel, Snape dived right in to attempt to control 
the situation rather than taking the time to try to determine who was 
doing it. He also exposed the fact that he was competant in wandless 
magic. He raced to the Shrieking Shack to take on Sirius and Remus 
without a thought to what might happen. Regardless of his intentions, 
whether to capture Sirius or to protect the Trio, it does not seem a 
very Slytherin thing to do. He acted quickly to save Dumbledore and 
again took complete command of the situation in the tower.
   We don't see any real ambition on the part of Snape. Whereas Slughorn 
plans ahead for some sort of ability to influence events, and Draco 
plans ahead to follow in his father's footsteps, Snape is content with a 
subordinate position to Dumbledore. He is always obedient to Dumbldore's 
wishes and generally quite respectful to him. We don't even see him as 
assistant head master.

   So, at the end of all this, why is Snape portrayed so differently 
from the others? Did the Sorting Hat also give him a choice of house, 
and did he make the wrong choice as he did so often? Is this another 
indication that Snape is DDM? Is he more Gryff than Slyth?
KJ