Regulus and Snape (was:OFH!Snape scenario (Long))

[cdayr]

No: HPFGUIDX 139715

 <saraquel_omphale at y...> wrote:
> I usually find the irresistible force meets immovable object 
debates 
> over Snape quite daunting. [snip} I 
> haven't really seen an OFH!Snape scenario spelt out on the 
list, so 
> what follows is me trying to work through a OFH!Snape 
scenario, it 
> may well have glaring holes – please feel free to pick at
them:-)
> 
[big snip of fab Snape analysis]
> 
> There is a big chunk of Snape story missing between the 
discovery of 
> the prophecy and Godric's Hollow.  Was he involved in the 
cave? (In 
> my reckoning he's the only character (maybe Lily or James) 
who had 
> the ability to overcome the obstacles in the cave, I don't believe 
> RAB did it alone and I'm not convinced about Kreacher. I think 
he's 
> a strong contender, but I'm not fixed on that.) What exactly was 
his 
> reason for going to DD? Was it real remorse?  Was it just an 
act to 
> get him in as a spy? 
> 

CDR here:

Your post has really started me thinking- I love your assessment 
of Snape's self-interested goals and quest for knowledge. 
However, this one little section above got me thinking along 
another line- definitely not straight out of canon, but fun to 
ponder...Please stop me if this has been covered- I read daily, 
but maybe missed this.

Your post tied two characters together in my mind for the first 
time- Regulus and Snape. It occured to me when reading your 
post that Regulus would have been just one year younger than 
Snape (and all the Marauders, confirmed by Lexicon) and a 
Slytherin. One of the issues that is still unresolved for me is why 
Snape and Sirius loathed each other so very much as adults- it 
still seems ridiculously extreme when based only on teenage 
dislike of each other. Now I'm wondering if Snape and Regulus 
weren't Slytherin buddies (hard to imagine Snape as anyone's 
"buddy" but who knows?). If so, and Sirius tied both his brother's 
descent into DE status and his death to his friendship/alliance 
with Snape, it could account for some of the loathing on his part. 
On Snape's side, if he felt that Sirius had abandonned his 
brother and his "toujours pur" blood-line, it could explain some of 
Snape's issues with Sirius (although frankly the "worst 
memory"-style bullying would explain it as well). I like the idea 
that Snape's only real "friend" was Sirius's brother, who went off 
and got himself killed, and neither of them has forgiven the other 
for it. Can't pull any canon yet (probably isn't any), but I'll keep 
looking. Please let me know if this idea has been discussed 
before- I'd love to read the thread.

I'm pondering the idea of a RAB/Snape team effort on the horcrux 
in the cave, as you suggested. If Snape had been helping 
Regulus and then escaped from Voldy while Regulus was killed, 
it would definitely add another dimension to Snape's shifting 
loyalties. However, I'm still not convinced 
myself...do you have further thoughts on why Snape might have 
helped? It seems to me at that point in time he is pretty 
committed towards Voldy. Could be interesting though...

-CDR, finally posting *something* post-HBP, even though I've 
been mulling over ideas every day, and surprised at what it's 
about...