HBP: Why I am 98.6% certain that...

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 132911

 
While I won't do a full review of HBP, I do have to say that it will probably 
go down as one of my favorite HP books, perhaps even my favorite (though 
having just finished it I am still in something of a stunned state, and I can't 
speak yet for Book 7). I much preferred the straight-forward narrative to the 
hodge-podge style of OoTP, and while HBP was downright painful to read toward 
the end, it was far less annoying than various parts of OoTP (particularly those 
involving Umbridge). There were several surprises, many plot points cleared 
up (why DADA teachers don't last more than a year, why Harry was accused of 
underage magic when Dobby actually performed it, etc), and questions I expected 
answered that were left unanswered (what happened at Godric's Hollow, why 
Sirius *had* to die in OoTP--per JKR, why DD trusted Snape so completely, etc) that 
will no doubt be answered in the Book 7. But let me just move to what has to 
be the most riveting dilemma left to us at the end of HBP: Is Snape really 
evil, and has he for the past 18 years completely fooled the greatest wizard of 
his age, Albus Dumbledore?
 
I think not. In fact--and hence the title of this post--I am 98.6% certain 
that Snape is still on the side of the Order, and that every action he took in 
HBP, up to and including killing DD with the Avada Kedavra curse, was done with 
DD's knowledge and consent. 
 
Why am I 98.6% certain, you ask? The points:
 
1. DD belabored the point OVER and OVER again in HBP (much more so than ever 
before) that he trusted Severus Snape. He has belabored this point since 
PS/SS. If in fact Snape turns out to be on Voldemort's side, then DD, who has 
certainly made mistakes--but generally reasonable ones--will look like one gigantic 
fool. I can't see DD going out having made such a monumental error in 
judgment. I just can't. 
 
2. If DD thinks or knows that sacrificing his life is necessary to ensure 
Harry's success in destroying Voldemort, then DD will do it. I don't know yet why 
DD had to be sacrificed, whether he will have more ability to help Harry in 
the "afterlife" (as a phoenix perhaps?), if he simply knew it was his "time," 
or the potion he drank was more deadly than he let on to Harry. But it 
certainly tied in conveniently with Snape's unbreakable vow to Narcissa, though I 
can't tell which came first--the unbreakable vow or DD's plan. If Snape and DD 
both know in the end Draco won't have the guts (or enough evil inside him) to 
kill DD as instructed--or both are determined to *save* Draco from taking that 
final step into the abyss--Snape will certainly have the guts to do what was 
necessary to move DD's plan forward (just as Harry had the guts to stick to his 
promise and keep forcing the potion down DD's throat in the cave). 
 
3. Several overheard conversations are ambiguous enough to be 
supportive--Hagrid heard DD and Snape arguing, Snape saying DD took too much for granted and 
maybe he didn't want to do it anymore, and DD replying that Snape had agreed 
to do it and that was all there was to it. That could easily be construed as 
Snape having second thoughts about killing DD if it became necessary, and DD 
reminding Snape he had promised (even given an unbreakable vow). Add to that the 
conversation Harry overhears between Snape and Draco, where Snape is clearly 
aware of Draco's intent and pumping Draco about how he's going accomplish his 
task. Snape is looking for his chance to either intervene or take Draco's place 
if killing DD becomes necessary. 
 
4. DD would *never* plead for his life. Ever. He doesn't fear death. I feel 
VERY strongly about this one. His "Severus...please..." plea was an act, or 
intended to prod Snape to carry out his promise--i.e., kill DD. And Snape...his 
look of hatred, well, Snape is good at those looks, isn't he? I imagine he has 
no trouble thinking of something that fills him with hate/rage (perhaps of 
Voldemort, who is ultimately the one forcing his hand here). 
 
5. Snape doesn't kill Harry when he has the opportunity, but instead saves 
him *yet again.* Yeah, the Dark Lord supposedly wants to take care of Harry 
himself. Whatever. If Snape hates Harry as much as he *seems* to, it's hard to 
believe he'd hold back, just so the Dark Lord could have his bit of fun. Instead 
Snape seemed to be having his own bit of fun with Harry, casually brushing 
away his curse attempts and simultaneously keeping him alive, and all the while 
giving him ADVICE on how to fight more effectively! Say what? 
 
6. This isn't a reference to a plot point, but it still bears saying I think. 
The difference between A. Snape running around with Voldemort and the Death 
Eaters as truly one of them throughout book Seven, and B. Snape working 
undercover while walking a tightrope between Voldemort's wrath and HARRY'S wrath (not 
to mention every other DA member, Order member, good witch/wizard everywhere) 
while setting up Voldemort for a fall, and perhaps dying himself to 
accomplish that fall, all because of his unswerving loyalty to DD based on some pivotal 
as yet undisclosed reason which will finally illuminate Snape's true 
character--to me it is the difference between a basic and not particularly inspired 
plotline, and a multifaceted, intriguing and ultimately satisfying plotline. 
 
7. Oh, speaking of that *reason* Dumbledore was so incredibly certain of 
Snape's loyalty and harped about trusting Snape to everyone who would listen, that 
*reason* which has been brought up repeatedly in every book, that *reason* 
that Harry's been dying to know, that we've ALL been dying to know--well, it 
will be nothing but a worthless red herring if Snape is really the evil git he 
appears to be at the end of book Six. Why would JKR belabor the point so much if 
it was in fact completely pointless (not to mention, where's the fun in it)?
 
8. Regarding Snape in particular, it's hard to believe that that's it--that's 
all there is to Snape. He hid at Hogwarts pretending to be loyal to DD until 
Voldemort regained his power, the end. Even from JKR's own interviews, she's 
hinted there's more to be revealed about Snape. (For instance, she thought it 
was funny someone asked about Snape falling in love and said that we would 
learn something more about that in book Seven...) If Snape has rejoined Voldemort 
for real, what more is there to reveal? I can't see JKR building all this 
complexity into Snape only to reduce him down to a mere evil character. 
 
Those are the main reasons I feel very confident that Snape is not truly back 
in Voldemort's service, as he appears to be at the end of book Six. I'm sure 
there are more that I just can't think of right now. But those ones feel 
pretty strong to me. So strong, in fact, that the one thing that could disappoint 
me in book Seven is if NO ONE recognizes these inconsistencies in Snape's and 
Dumbledore's behavior once they've had time to reflect on it. (Harry might be 
too emotional to think about it logically, but I would hope Lupin, McGonagall 
or others might express some ambivalence about Snape's loyalties).
 
As for that remaining 1.4%, that little niggling bit of doubt, well...I must 
admit that I am not the writer ;-) No one has yet predicted everything JKR 
will do, though *some* things have certainly happened as predicted. She's made a 
comment or two that Snape is a "horrible man" and such, which could be 
construed as support for Snape being evil all along. Yet, she always manages to 
contradict those comments with other far more ambiguous comments. So I can't say 
with 100% certainty that Snape is still on the side of good, but after HBP I'm 
actually more convinced now than I ever was before!
 
In any case, there's no doubt in my mind that book Seven has become a story 
that hinges squarely on the actions of two people--Harry Potter and Severus 
Snape (Volde--who?--really, I almost forgot about his existence in HBP!) Sure, 
all the characters will be involved (I don't think for a minute Ron or 
Hermoine--or Ginny--will let Harry go off to find those Horcruxes on his own). But in 
the end I think it will Snape who will be most pivotal to Harry's 
success--though I suspect at least one serious confrontation between them, with Harry 
proving much more of a match for Snape than he was in HBP, before Harry realizes 
that DD's trust in Severus Snape was indeed well-founded. 
 
And now we only have to wait two more years (TWO YEARS--AARGH!!!) to find out 
for sure ;-)
 
Julie 
--wondering if it's a bad thing that I love Snape (as a character) even more 
than I did before! 



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