Hard time for Snape?(was Re: Draco the Death Eaters and Voldemort)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 139991

 
Alla:

Oh, I don't know about that, Julie. Are you saying that  Snape would 
have preferred to spend these fourteen years ( or thirteen or  
twelve, I am fuzzy on timeline today) prior to Voldemort's return in  
Azkaban instead of in Hogwarts?

I mean, let's face it, instead of  going to jail as a member of 
terrorist organization, he got a nice job as  Hogwarts professor 
under the protection  of most powerful wizard of all  time.

If I were Snape, I would be very grateful, that I escaped  Azkaban,

I think Snape had  it VERY good all those years before  Voldemort 
returned. True, after Voldemort returned  he may have   been forced 
to do some unpleasant things, but before,as Marianne said ( I  
think) dear Severus  got a himself a very nice deal, IMO.

He  did  not teach in the position he preferred? It is still much 
better,  IMO, to have a paying job than sitting in Azkaban in close 
proximity to  dementors.

He was protecting Harry? Well, IMO, it is arguable, but again,  even 
if it is so, he was doing what teacher is required  to do - namely  
protect the safety of his students.







Julie:
I don't think Snape wanted to spend those years prior to Voldemort's
return in Azkaban. But he could have gone into hiding, something DD
could have arranged if *DD* wanted to do so. But I also believe the
reason DD vouched for Snape is because Snape agreed to help 
him defeat Voldemort. Part of that deal probably also involved 
protecting Harry. And Snape teaching at Hogwarts keeps him near
DD, so DD can both protect and keep an eye on him, and where
Snape can also help protect Hogwarts and strategize with DD once 
Voldemort returned. 
 
I do think Snape was grateful to be saved from Azkaban. And what
better way to show gratitude than to serve DD in the above manner?
And to put his life on the line while doing so? My point about not 
getting the position he preferred doesn't negate that gratitude. I was 
just point out that Snape being at Hogwarts all these years teaching,
and later protecting Harry, may not--probably isn't--how he would  have
chosen to spend his life, before he limited his choices with his own 
regrettable actions (telling Voldemort about the prophecy). 
 
In the end, he did get a nice deal for 12 years, before Harry showed 
up at Hogwarts and Voldemort returned. But then came the time 
Snape probably dreaded (but still has willingly faced), the time to  pay
up. (Another reason why he must have been less than thrilled to see
Harry Potter arrive at Hogwarts!) If Snape does turn out to be DD's
man, then he's certainly been meeting that obligation. 
 
Regarding the issue of protecting Harry, I agree that protecting the 
students is something a teacher is expected to do. But because  it's
expected doesn't mean it's going to happen. Lockhart wasn't about 
to protect students at the cost of his own safety. It's questionable 
whether several other teachers who've come and gone would do so
either, or in some cases (Trelawny, for example) *could* do so. 
This is one thing I respect about Snape. He has always protected
the students under his care from physical danger (his verbal abuse
is a separate matter, and I don't respect his use of it, but  it's still true 
that death is a far worse and much more final fate than occasional
humiliation). It's why I said once that if I had a child at Hogwarts 
during Voldemort's reign of terror, other than Dumbledore, I'd want
that child to be in Snape's presence if the school's protection was
compromised (even McGonagall doesn't seem to be as skilled a
wizard as Snape). And even after what we saw in HBP (or partly 
because of what we saw--e.g. Snape placed Hermoine and Ginny
out of danger, removed the DEs from Hogwarts, and didn't harm 
Harry beyond a stinging slap despite Harry's continued efforts to
harm him), I still stand by that assessment. I may yet be proven
wrong, at which time I'll have to reassess, but I don't think so. 
 
Oh, and as for Harry...yes, he's a student so Snape has a duty
to protect him. But he doesn't have a duty to go *out of his way*
to do so, as he did when he saved Harry from Quirrell in PS/SS.
He didn't have to do that, as no one but himself seemed aware
of Quirrell's plans. He could have let Harry die then and there, and
been done with him, done with everything, without any blame 
being placed on him. 
 
I think his protection of Harry goes beyond the normal protection
of teacher over student. I suspect there is some vow or promise
involved, from Snape to DD, or even from Snape to Lily. It also
helps explain Snape's resentment of Harry, beyond the likeness
to James, beyond jealousy of Harry's role or place in DD's heart,
and beyond Harry's actual habit of breaking rules that reinforces
Snape's beliefs about him. And it explains Snape's near constant 
presence whenever Harry is doing something that might put him 
in danger. For me, it's too elegant a solution not to be true ;-)
 
All IMO, 
 
Julie 


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