Snape's "idiotic" behavior (Was: Twist JKR?)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 141723

Alla wrote:
> Oh, also as we established OFH! could go two different paths or even 
> three - OFH!Snape who feels that his interests are best served by 
> Voldemort alive and OFH! DDM! Snape AND Snape who really really just 
> wants to be left alone by everybody.

Carol responds:
I'm wondering how Snape's (or anyone's) best interests could be served
by keeping Voldemort alive. (Snape wanting to be left alone makes a
lot of sense post-HBP but not before--the private potions island
option. ;-) )
> 

Alla wrote:
> 
><snip> Could you explain to me or maybe refer me to the post
explaining how Voldemort forced Snape to take UV? 
> Personally I think that Snape indeed made the ultimate choice when 
> he took the UV. I said many times that I consider it to  be the 
> idiotic choice when I am in my most charitable mood and  the 
> treacherous choice,when I am not in the charitable mood, but I am 
> not sure how Voldemort participated in Snape's making that choice? 
> Some kind of mental connection, like zombie - Snape? Voldemort 
> hypnotising him and saying "Take the Vow, Snape, take the Vow"?

Carol responds:
I know you're addressing Jen, but possibly you might consider the
influence of the DADA curse, which I postualted some time ago in a
very long post. 

First, to fend off objections that Snape was not yet the DADA
instructor, let me state that Snape, despite what he implies to
Bellatrix, must have already known that he would be teaching DADA this
year and already taken the post. There simply was no other candidate
(not to mention his own very real qualifications for teaching the
class in a time of danger). Moreover, I'm sure that DD would not have
approached Slughorn about the Potions position unless it was actually
available, i.e., unless Snape had already agreed to teach the DADA
course. It would be unfair to either of them to do otherwise. 

That said, isn't it possible that the DADA curse, which has ruined
every other DADA teacher's life or career (except Umbridge's?) was
already in operation for Snape?

Idiotic behavior? What about Lupin, looking at a map he should have
turned in to Dumbledore, seeing Peter Pettigrew on the map, well aware
by his own admission that HRH would probably be on the grounds to see
Hagrid, forgetting his potion and rushing out on a full moon night?
I'd call that idiotic, or at least uncharacteristically reckless and
irresponsible. And it resulted, ultimately, in Lupin transforming,
endangering three students, Wormtail escaping, and Lupin losing his
position (quite understandably, under the circumstances). Voldemort's
advantage; Lupin's disadvantage.

Similarly, the Snape we know, whether he's OFH! or DDM!, is generally
a very cautious man. Take, for example, his very careful wording to
Harry when he's explaining Occlumency to Harry (page number available
on request). Or his dealings with Bellatrix (not Narcissa!) in
"Spinner's End"--for the most part, apparently, the same version of
events that he has successfully presented to Voldemort, with a few new
twists, added after he has carefully established that Bella is not
currently on speaking terms with LV--or rather, that he's not on
speaking terms with her. I don't want to press this point, as I'm
pretty sure you agree that Snape would not be alive had he not been
very careful in his words and actions in dealing with Voldemort and
the Death Eaters, and perhaps with Dumbledore also. Other actions,
even sowing his Dark Mark to Fudge (which I regard as an acto of
courage and loyalty to DD) were surely not done without consideration
for the outcome.

How, then, or why, then, does Snape suddenly and uncharacteristically
place himself in a predicament that could lead to his death? I don't
think that he and DD could have anticipated such and event, though I
could be wrong. I don't see any evidence of pre-planning by Narcissa,
who needed Bellatrix to serve as bonder yet didn't want her along. And
I don't see how LV could have arranged it, either. Yet without
question, the UV operates to Voldemort's advantage and without
question Snape's choices on the tower, forced by the UV, result in his
immense disadvantage--the loss of job, prestige, mentor, trust,
freedom, maybe even self-love.

Two DADA instructors, both trapped by their own uncharacteristic
"idiocy" into harming themselves and helping Voldemort. Both cases
defy explanation--unless we consider the operation of a curse placed
on their position by Voldemort himself.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

Carol