Snape key (getting longish)

[dungrollin]

No: HPFGUIDX 121400


I got horribly lost in the archives the other 
day, and spent a good few hours trying to extricate 
myself.  However, upon emerging (mercifully 
unscathed), I was reminded of something I wanted 
to do a while ago, to systematise Snape theories, 
specifically those concerned with why he left the 
DEs and turned spy.

So.  I have a full glass of wine, and an empty 
ashtray. (Sod new years resolutions, it's Friday...) 
Care to join me?  I realise that this subject has 
been gone over and over (and over), and I've read a 
lot (well, some) of the past threads, but with all 
this talk of morality, I thought it was about time 
to have another bash at it, perhaps some new ideas 
or twists can be found.

Thus, I humbly offer a key to Snape theories, (which 
I hope works) with some discussion at the end.  I've 
left out those theories that don't appear to concern 
themselves with why Snape turned spy in VWI, though 
between Hypothetic Alley, Yahoo!Mort and some random 
wandering along interesting looking threads, I think 
I've covered most of them. *Please* feel free to edit 
and improve it.

Many of the theories mentioned below cover other aspects of
Snape's history too, not just his reasons for turning spy and 
leaving the DEs, and some of them I couldn't find specific 
references to – e.g. I've seen Snape's wife and son
killed by DEs suggested as a motivation for him leaving, and an 
acronym for Snape having a dead wife (SWINDLED), so rather cheekily 
put them together – if there are names for theories that I've 
missed, please tell me.  Most of them can be found at Hypothetic 
Alley and Innish Alley.

The dichotomous keys that I routinely use in RL are for identifying 
animals, but sometimes the creature you're looking at just
doesn't match what's written in the key.  This means a)
you've found a new variation or subspecies, b) you've found
an undescribed species entirely new to science, or c) the key is 
badly written.  All of which are very realistic possibilities here; 
however – please be aware that much angst is caused in taxonomic 
circles by the description of new species, when actually the 
specimen in question is an aberration or discoloured example of an 
already existing species.  (I know this is an English list, but you 
can all speak Metaphor, can't you?)


Dichotomous key to Snape theories.

(As you may not know how to use a dichotomous key, I'll briefly 
explain: you are presented with two statements, you choose which one 
you agree with most, and follow the number to a further two 
statements ... and so on ... until you arrive at your theory.  Oh, 
and I've tried to edit this so that it looks ok on the webview, no 
idea how it'll turn out in your emails...)


1.
- Snape was a fully-committed DE from the start, he believed in the 
idea of pure-blood supremacy, and had no ethical problem with using 
the dark arts					 2
- Snape was never a fully committed DE, he originally joined them as 
a spy for DD				OSCAR-WINNER!SNAPE

2.
- Snape left the DEs because he changed his mind about what they 
stood for, for moral reasons, and went searching for redemption.
				 		 3
- He did not consider morality in his decision to turn spy and 
leave, and he still believes in the DE ideals		 8

3.
- His leaving was caused by an epiphany (big bang)	 4
- His leaving was a gradual realisation (steady state)	 7

4.
- Someone he cared about was killed/threatened by Voldemort, he 
realises that all deaths are personal to someone, everything comes 
crashing down and he sees the error of his ways	 5
- He was honour-bound to turn spy as he owed a life debt 6

5.
- Snape was/is in love with Lily, and once he realised Lily was a 
Voldy target, he cursed the day he'd ever joined up	 
                                       LOLLIPOPS/EWWW and vars.
- Snape had a wife (Florence?) and son who were killed by Voldy 
and/or the DEs					SWINDLED

6. 
- DD saved Snape's life, and was honour-bound to turn spy
                                                      MERCY I
- Snape owed James and/or Lily a life debt, and was honour-bound to 
try to save them when he found out they were targets  MERCY II

7.
- He was always aware of morality, but begins to apply it to himself 
and those around him				  GEORGE 
- His leaving the DEs was the first time he has understood that 
there is *not* just `power and those too weak to take it',
and that he can actually conceive a morality	       DIANA

8. 
- He realises that Voldy is only out for power for himself, and that 
pureblooded ideals are not the priority		PRINCE GEORGE
- Not as above					9

9.
- He was forced to leave the DEs by circumstances beyond his control
						10
- He didn't have to leave the DEs, it was a choice to become a 
traitor						11	

10.
- DD saved Snape's life at some point and calls in the debt	
                                                     MERCY I
- Snape owed his life to James (and/or Lily), when he found out that 
Voldy was after the Potters, he had no choice (due to the
`magical bond') but to try to save them		MERCY II

11.
- Snape's primary reason for turning against Voldemort is revenge
						12
- Snape never cared about anyone or anything enough to want revenge
						13

12.
- His original motivation for joining the DEs was gaining power, and 
once he's been humiliated and tortured by Voldie he leaves, bent
on revenge				PRINCE OF LIES
- Voldy killed/threatened Snape's wife and/or child		
 					SWINDLED/Snape!Son

13.
- Snape has evil-overlord ambitions of his own, wants Harry to 
defeat Voldemort so *he* can defeat Harry
                        	    GOLD SIEVE/VAMPISH TRICKSTER
- Snape has no evil-overlord ambitions		14

14.
- Snape callously left the DEs as after he heard (part of) the 
prophecy, he realised that DD's was the winning side
                                  SWEET MARY JESUS AND JOSEPH
- Snape is *ever*-so-evil, and only came over to DD to spy for 
Voldemort in the first place	    	    SIAMESE CAT

None of the above = You are a very irritating/ 
indecisive/unpigeonholeable holist, *or* a genius who has come up 
with something new, *or* I'm utterly useless and have missed out 
large chunks of previously espoused theory.


Now, the more observant amongst you will have noticed that MERCY I, 
MERCY II and SWINDLED appear twice.  This is because of the morality 
bit – LOLLIPOPS could have been in there twice too, Snape could
have wanted to save Lily for selfish non-ethical reasons (ahem).  
But in going through the back-posts, I've tried to be faithful to 
the original descriptions of the theories, and loving Lily was (I 
think) originally supposed to be the nudge that Snape needed to 
embark upon his new ethical life.  

And just to note, so that I'm not deluged with replies, I'm certain 
that some of these theories are compatible with each other (e.g. 
George and Lollipops), and that there will be small niggling 
differences (probably for every individual).  I just hope that some 
of the distinctions I've made between them may inspire some debate.

As a brave attempt to start off some discussion, I'll say that my 
personal favourite is MERCY II (in the non-ethical sense).  I have 
great difficulty with the idea that Snape developed a distaste for 
the DE antics and a brand new shiny set of morals, yet kept his 
meanness and enjoyment of inflicting wounds (if only verbal these 
days) on the defenceless.  I'm an adherent of SPACEMAN – I
like my Snape nasty.     

But, the idea that Snape had a wife is just... (too much wine 
speaking here) *wrong*.  Much as I like the idea that he switched 
sides wanting revenge - it seems more plausible than any of the 
other emotion-based theories - I can't see him getting hitched.  Not 
at the age of twenty, or whatever.  He'd stick his neck out (he has 
been known, on occasion, to be stubborn) and worm his way out of it 
for as long as he could. (I should emphasise that Snape!Son was not 
proposed with the idea in mind that Snape had ever indulged in 
anything as whimsical as *love*).

On the other hand, many have argued that DD wouldn't trust him 
unless he had truly converted to the good guys side.  I, however, 
think that DD would be far more likely to trust a non-philosophical 
reason – I just can't picture the scene: Snape convincing DD
that he's really honestly genuinely unequivocally a nice chap
now.  DD the legilimens + Snape the Occlumens = stalemate.  Nah, 
sorry, I don't buy it, and I don't think DD did.  

But if he could show DD that he logically had absolutely no choice 
but to leave the DEs why would DD not accept his help?  Once Voldy 
knows he's a traitor, Snape would never be allowed back, and if 
Voldy wins the war, he's dead.  If he's protected at
Hogwarts, Snape will do everything he can to help DD (and, by 
extension, Harry) even though he may not like them, even though he 
agrees with Voldy, because once he's *left* Voldy, he's got
no choice.  I'd trust Snape's sense of self-preservation a
million times more than I'd trust some newly-emerged sense of
right and wrong.

There is, of course, the possibility that Snape didn't intend
Voldy to find out that he was a traitor.  Snape can't have known
how GH was going to turn out, he may have wanted to pay off
James's debt by saving his life in return, then slip back into
the DE ranks without Voldy noticing.  In which case, something went 
horribly wrong.  (I'd like to see some theories about this, but mine 
may have to wait until the alcohol content of my blood-stream is a 
little lower.)

We don't know anything about Snape's trial, except that DD
gave evidence and Snape was cleared.  His trial obviously happened 
after GH, because in GoF, Sirius didn't know that he had ever
been a DE.  Was someone other than Karkaroff a snitch?  If so, who?  
Was it a DE?  Was it someone else who was later cleared?  Would DD 
*really* have insisted after Voldy's fall that Snape turn himself in 
for a full criminal trial, certain that he'd get off with DD's 
support?  (I've never seen this discussed before, if someone can 
point me to a post, I'd be much obliged.)

So anyway, poor Snapey's left working for people he doesn't
like, for a cause in which he doesn't believe, in order to defeat
a Dark Lord he reveres, and the friends with whom he agrees.  Poor 
chap.

Dungrollin
Now, where's the rest of that wine...?