Snape in the Shrieking Shack (Was: Are appearances important to Snape?)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 142287

>Betsy Hp:
>Why does Snape need a dementor? If he's ESE or bent on revenge or
>especially trying to hide Peter's true role in the Potters' death,
>why not just kill Sirius himself? He could kill Sirius, knock out
>Harry and then hunt down and kill Lupin, if he so desires.
>Actually, I'm kind of wondering why Snape felt he had to wait for
>Sirius to give him a reason back in the Shack, if he's evil and all.

a_svirn:
Why, to avoid Azkaban, of course. If a wizard with a DE record used 
an Unforgivable, I really don't think he would have been able to 
avoid punishment even with Dumbledore on his side. Also there is a 
little matter of inquiry. Snape clearly does not want anyone to pry 
in this too closely. 


>Betsy Hp:
>Bellatrix (and those who came to Azkaban with her) would have
>realized there was a *double-crosser*. I don't think it's clear
>that they knew exactly who the double-crosser was. Maybe the Death
>Eaters knew there was a spy but didn't know the spy's identity.

a_svirn:

Actually, I think you are quite right. I too think that they 
meant "someone else". Pettigrew does not fit the description, 
because he never "double-crossed" them. He only double-crossed the 
Order and the Potters. There is another person who qualifies as 
double 
"double-crosser" though. Sirius never spotted it because he was too 
obsessed with Peter and also because his information was necessarily 
limited.

>Betsy Hp:
>One man's "comfortable pose" is another man's "confunded audience".
><g> Reading through the scene again (after the door creak and
>before Snape's reveal) it seems plausible (IMO) that Snape really
>did think the children were confunded.

a_svirn:

maybe in a sense "confound 'em"  

>Betsy Hp:
<snip>
>Remember, Snape is sure (and Lupin admits) that Lupin has 
>completely
>fooled *Dumbledore*. Snape is wary enough of Lupin to actually back
>out of a room Lupin is in. It's not a stretch at all, IMO, to think
>that Lupin *has* cast a spell on the children so that they will be
>more easily taken (or so they remain in the Shack long enough for
>him to transform).

a_svirn:

You mean Snape thought that all those reminiscences were nothing 
else but a way to while away the time before Lupin's transformation? 
So that he could have the kids for a snack? Now, one certainly 
cannot fathom the mind of a werewolf, but surely it's a bit too 
much? Why not simply stun and bind them? 

>Betsy Hp:
>Or did Snape change his mind when Sirius expressed such an 
>eagerness
>to get to the castle? The same Sirius who managed to blow up a
>street before? Perhaps Snape thinks Sirius has something up his
>sleeve. 

a_svirn:

Ah, yes the infamous tricks that Lord Voldemort allegedly taught 
him. This kind of bogus might have worked on Fudge, no doubt, but 
Snape undoubtedly knew better, regardless of his loyalties.


>Betsy Hp:
>We don't get to see into Snape's mind, so really, any
>scenario works. But the fact that he feels he needs a *reason* to
>kill Sirius, the fact that he wants to turn the criminals over to
>the authorities (and the dementors, creepy as they are, are the
>authorities) does suggest a certain obedience to the law. At least,
>IMO.

a_svirn:

Well, as a man who had nearly escaped Azkaban some years previously 
he would certainly have been wary of the Law. Much as he wanted to 
kill Sirius, in front of the three or four (if we count Lupin) 
witnesses he would have needed a "reason" very badly. As for 
authorities, yes Sirius has been sentenced to the kiss, so he could 
feed him to a Dementor without any reprisal.