The Case Against Snape

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 133033

(Actually I don't have time to make a truly complete and exhaustive 
case against Snape today, nor would I expect anyone to read such a 
tome today of all days, so I'll try to just focus on a few key 
things)



Okay, all you guys who still think he's one of the good guys, 
consider the following:

In the muggle torture scene at the World Cup in GOF, *one* (and only 
one) masked DE performs the curse that turns Mrs. Roberts upside 
down and reveals her underwear.  No incantation is heard.  Silent 
levicorpus, anyone?  And who would do that?  Mind you, this would be 
years after he had supposedly reformed.

Mr. Weasley later explains that the DEs used to kill and torture 
muggles just for fun.  (Muggles, after all, pose no threat to LV so 
it's unlikely he would issue orders concerning them.  And they would 
be irresistible targets for a pure sadist out for a thrill, as they 
cannot defend themselves.)

Snape has left his DE tendencies behind, you think?  He no longer 
tortures the helpless just for fun?  Does the name Neville 
Longbottom ring a bell?  What more inviting target could there be 
for a pure sadistic bully? (There are numerous examples of Snape's 
gratuitous cruelty in the books, but let's focus on this one to 
because it's probably the worst and the most long running.)

Still not convinced?  If magic is a science, then it should be 
subject to scientific proof.  What is required to make an 
Unforgivable Curse work?  We have the answer from Ms Unforgivable 
herself, Bellatrix.  "You have to mean it...You have to really want 
to cause pain -- to enjoy it."

Proof that this is true comes from Harry's unsuccessful attempts to 
use the Cruciatus curse.  Even though in both cases he was in rage, 
the greatest anger he had ever known, he still lacked the hatred and 
sadism needed to project the curse.  In fact I would go so far as to 
say that if Harry ever is able to perform such a curse, it will mean 
he is lost.

Snape, on the other hand, has no trouble casting the curse, and he 
instantly succeeds.  Think of it as a lab test.  If the effect is 
death, the cause must have been hatred.  That is the way 
Unforgivables work.  And just in case we miss this point JKR writes 
that he had an expression of "revulsion and hatred" on his face as 
he aimed the curse at Dumbledore.

Okay, I said I would keep it brief.  Those who disagree, please  
make your arguments.  Explain how Snape could have used the AV curse 
without truly hating Dumbledore.  Explain who else would have turned 
Mrs. Roberts upside down.  Explain why he has tormented Neville over 
the years when there was nothing to be gained from it but a sick 
pleasure in watching his squirm.  Explain how someone who revels in 
that kind of pleasure could be anything other than a Death Eater at 
heart.  Your witness, counsel.

Inkling