Snape's "saving" of Harry--was Re: Hard time for Snape?

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 140063

>Julie:
That is what I meant. Snape could have allowed Harry to be killed
by Quirrell. And that's not the opportunity Snape let pass.

vmonte responds:

Snape: "I had a comfortable job that I preferred to a stint in
Azkaban. Thet were rounding up the Death Eaters, you know.
Dumbledore's protection kept me out of jail; it was most convenient
and I used it." (p27, Spinner's End)

Bella: "But why did you keep him alive?"

Snape: "Have you not understood me? It was only Dumbledore's
protection that was keeping me out of Azkaban! Do you disagree that
murdering his favorite student might have turned him against me?"
(p30, Spinner's End)

So, while Harry is at the school Snape must protect him and not kill 
him, which would look very suspicious to Dumbledore. 

Dumbledore to Snape:
"I don't understand Severus. Weren't you at the Quidditch match when 
Professor Quirrell jinxed Harry's broom?"

Snape:
"I must have been tying my shoelaces at the time head master. And 
it's PROFESSOR Snape, thank you." 


This is probably the reason why Snape wanted Harry to get expelled 
from school so that Harry would lose Dumbledore's security.


>Alla:
Oh, Julie, whatever problems I may have with ESE!Snape, taking Sirius
and Harry back to the castle on stretchers is the very last of
them :-)

The way I read Snape is that whether he is good, evil or out for
himself he wants recognition, fame, etc and what is the better way to
get recognition than to deliver Azkaban escapee to the Ministyr and
gleefully watch how he can be "lawfully" kissed by Dementors.

The extrabonus would be to watch poor Remus being kissed of course
AND to show Dumbledore that he WAS wrong after all to hire Remus
because Snape told him so.

Going back to saving Harry, I am actually quite open to OFH!Snape,
who was still picking and choosing sides in PS/SS and started
resenting Dumbledore badly after POA, when Dumbledore basically made
him the object of public humiliation ( in Snape view, IMO).

vmonte:
I agree with you Alla. Snape is always looking for recognition. I
really think that it's based in insecurity, or else why would he be
so emotionally stunted.

Vivian