Huge clue to Snape's true allegence hidden in OotP?

[ornadv]

No: HPFGUIDX 144746

>Kchuplis:
> Indeed, but I think Snape IS a risk taker and I also think just as
>Harry is blinded by Snape's ability because of hatred the opposite 
>is also true. If there is one thing I'm pretty certain of is that 
>Snape is no coward.

Orna:
I agree with you, and thanks for these thought provoking remarks- 
they are helpful for me in understanding Snape.  Anyone 
experimenting about with potions and spells, some of them deadly, 
must be an enormous risk-taker. We know Luna's mother didn't survive 
her experiments.
 
Another Snapey-Snivelly thought - 
I also reread Spinner's end, and what struck me, was the number of 
times Narcissa's tears are mentioned – really a lot. We see Snape 
looking away from her tears, we see her shedding tears on his robe, 
and afterwards look into his eyes, pleading for the UV, with tear-
filled eyes. She is totally unrestrained on this issue, and perhaps 
not only because of loosing control, but because of gaining control 
(on Snape). Now Snape, assumingly, has some issue with tears – he 
wouldn't be called Snivellus, and wouldn't be so hard fighting 
against wearing hearts on sleeves, (by occlumency, and his words to 
Harry). 
So I thought, perhaps making the UV was brought about by a 
combination of his (too) huge risk-taking, and by his vulnerability 
to tears. I don't know why Snape has this tears-issue – but it's 
there. 
I think he was driven too far, because of two reasons:
1. The DADA curse, which works IMO by exaggerating the person's 
character destructively

2. I wouldn't put it past Voldemort, who after all, is quite 
something in manipulating human feelings, as we see in OotP to have 
planned this Draco assignment, to force Snape into the open. Since 
Voldemort thinks death is the worst thing, he would never imagine DD 
(and in a way Snape) sacrificing himself. He would guess Narcissa 
would go to Snape, who is an old family friend, and try to persuade 
him to save Draco. Perhaps that's what Snape means, when he says, he 
thinks the Dark Lord means him to do it in the end – he seems to 
know him.

And another thought – Voldemort would enjoy the game of this 
torturing of – Draco, Narcissa, Snape, DD (by having him killed- 
betrayed from his POV). It would just fit his way of psychological 
brutalizing of his followers and enemies alike. 
And now he has a new "playground" before him - Narcissa betraying 
the secret, Bella questioning the Dark-Lords wisdom, and Snape - 
being hunted by the order - more than himself, in a way.

Orna