Regarding Snape's childhood and his job for the Order...

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122834


>Trekkiegrrl wrote:
Now, I haven't been am member of this group for long, but it amazes
me that noone has mentioned more about Snape's childhood.
I find it rather obvious that his own childhood has been the one of
an abused child. And his behavioral pattern fits this very well.
No wonder Snape hides behind his sarcastic mask. Better not let
anyone get close to you - that way they can't hurt you!

vmonte responds:
Harry's home life wasn't a piece of cake either.

>Trekkiegrrl:
I don't think he's sadistic in the usual sense of that word either.
But again it's the typical pattern:People who are beaten as kids
are far more inclined to slap their own children.

vmonte:
But isn't it "our choices who define who we are?" I do have sympathy
for someone who has been abused, but not if they turn around and do
it to someone else. If they cannot control themselves, they should
not be around what triggers the bad behavior.

snip

Trekkiegrrl:
One of the reasons why Snape is at Hogwarts is, I believe,
protection. He's not safe outside Hogwarts. And with his obvious
skill as a Potions Master, he has a plausible reason to stay there.
No, he's not an ideal teacher after our standards. But again,
remember how old fashoined the Wizarding World is. Go back 75 years
and he would have been a MILD teacher. Add to that that he's
probably never recieved any formal education in how to teach, and I
think he does a pretty good job.

vmonte responds:
We are however, missing some key information about Snape. I would
like to know exactly in what capacity Snape is working for Dumbledore
(besides being the Potions teacher).

If he is a spy, in what capacity is he a spy? Is he getting
information for Dumbledore? Or is he spreading misinformation? The
only reason why I mention misinformation as a strategy is why
wouldn't Dumbledore use Snape's talent at verbal manipulation to
confound the enemy. (I'm thinking of Iago, from Othello.)

If Dumbledore thinks like a strategist then he is using everything in
his power to gain foreknowledge of the enemy: their disposition,
future plans, and their condition. Which means that he is using more
than one spy, right? By the way a "mole" would also be of great use
to Dumbledore, no?

Maybe there is hope for Percy yet. If he turns mole for Dumbledore he
will really redeem himself in my eyes. It is one thing to be a part
time spy who lives mostly in relative safety at Hogwarts, but it is
another to be a mole that risks their life 24/7.

Foreknowledge seems key in beating your opponent. And Dumbledore
often seems to have foreknowledge. (IMO this is the reason why
Voldemort fears Dumbledore, because he is always two steps ahead of
his game.)

Finally, I cannot help but think about Trelawny's prophecy. Without
the prophecy Voldemort would have conquered the WW ages ago. It has
actually stalled Voldemort from gaining complete power of the WW.
(What better way to spread misinformation and cause the enemy to be
confounded.) Voldemort's worst fear is death. The prophecy has caused
Voldemort to lose his focus on controlling the WW, and refocused it
on beating Harry.

The problem is I'm pretty sure that Dumbledore had nothing to do with
creating this prophecy.

Vivian