The Dark Lord and Snape's worst memory

[kempermentor]

No: HPFGUIDX 124087


Snape's Worst Memory.

The chapter is juicy, but maybe it's not important for us to derive 
from the events the specifics to what makes this memory Snape's worst.
I'm assuming that it is Snape who identifies this memory as his 
worst.  That assumed, I think we need to expand away from the juicy 
chapter and say hello to the Dementors of PoA, make faces at the Man 
with Two Faces, and touch upon on the first Occulemency lesson. 

Harry's Worst Memory.
Harry's worst fear is a dementor.  His worst memory in the presense 
of one, or facsimile of one, is the death of his mom.  

Legilimens.
Snape says the Dark Lork is a highly skilled Legilimens to the point 
where he can nearly always tell when someone is lying to him.  We 
first see evidence of this in PS/SS when Harry lies about the Stone 
in his pocket.
"He lies... He lies..."
The Dark Lord (who Quirrell calls Lord Voldemort...?) inbedded in  
the back of Q's head looks at Harry.  "... Now... why don't you give 
me that Stone in your pocket?"
Then, shortly, 
"...but your mother needn't have died... she was trying to protect 
you... Now give me the Stone, **unless you want her to have died in 
vain.**" (Emphasis mine) The Dark Lord uses Harry's worst memory in 
order to manipulate Harry into giving the Stone to him. 

Hating in Others What You Hate in Yourself.
In Harry's first Occulemency lesson Snape tells Harry, "You allowing 
me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons."  Continueing, "I 
told you to empty yourself of emotion!"
Harry, "Yeah?  Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment."
Snape, "Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!  
Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves who cannot 
control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow 
themselves to be provoked this easily --weak people, in other words-- 
they stand no chance against his powers!  He will penetrate your mind 
with absurd ease, Potter!"

Snape's Worst Memory.
In this memory we see Snape apparently friendless (he doesn't discuss 
the test with any buddies he keeps to himself) and we see Snape is 
humiliated and the only one that comes to his defense is not from his 
house and a Mudblood to boot.  These are weapons handed to the Dark 
Lord.  


I'm thinking that Snape's worst memory is the one the Dark Lord used 
to manipulate a young, emotional Snape into giving the Dark Lord what 
he wanted.  Whatever it was, (loyalty, potions, something else) it 
eventually led Snape into the inner circle. 
Now... is it his worst memory because of the events that occured or 
because of the events that followed?

Kemper