Hearing from the Great Middle

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 140106

lupinlore wrote:
> But that's just me.  I'm interested in hearing what other members 
> of the Great Middle think.

zgirnius:
If I had to guess what I really think is going on with Snape (and I 
do think guess is the right word, I believe that JKR has carefully 
built in ambiguities to make things uncertain) here goes:

Snape really did come to DD sincerely remorseful for his prior bad
actions back in the days of Voldemort's first war. I expect to learn 
more about why he was remorseful, and why Dumbledore believed him. I 
do not have a personal favorite theory. But I have seen more than one 
theory on the list which would work as far as I am concerned. 
(LOLLIPOPS, or his horror that Voldemort orders the killing of 
Regulus Black, as two examples). 

Despite having something at least vaguely resembling a conscience, he 
remains a nasty, unpleasant, bitter person, hence the interactions 
with his students that we see throughout the books. But Dumbledore, 
even seeing this, still trusts Snape, for the reason that Snape 
really did assume the very dangerous role of double agent in the 
first war, and is again willing to assume it at the end of GoF. 
Presumably he provides the Order with valuable intelligence during 
Books 5 and 6 which bolsters this confidence. (This might include 
information about the Riddle diary and its importance to Voldemort, 
Voldemort's plans regarding the Prophecy, and the warning to the 
Order that Harry may have gone to the MoM at the end of OotP.) Snape 
also, before the start of HBP, saves Dumbledore's life. (If we are to 
believe Dumbledore about the events surronding the Ring Horcrux, 
which I do.)

But in Book 6 the situation changes. Snape takes the Unbreakable Vow 
in Chapter 2. I suppose that he does not know what the plan for Draco 
is at that time, he is trying to string Cissy and Bella along to 
learn this information like a good spy would. He agrees to the UV to 
gain their trust, and is perfectly happy to swear to protect and 
watch over Draco. The third request, of course, is the kicker-I think 
he did not see it coming. While the 'order spy' motive works best for 
me (coldebiancardi, if you are reading this I also loved 'The Spy Who 
Came in From the Cold'), I would not be particularly surprised if 
some variant of ACID POPS were in play as well, and I *really like* 
the idea that Snape's fateful decision to take the Vow may have been 
due to the malign influence of the DADA curse. (Yes, the timeline is 
off, it may not have been made official by then, but DD was thinking 
about bringing in Sluggie at Potions. Maybe the curse reads minds...)

Depending on what exactly Draco's mission is, it *still* might not 
even be a total disaster. But, as the mission turns out to be to kill 
DD, well, Snape has a problem. I think Snape probably discusses his 
predicament with Dumbledore and even admits to making a UV, but I 
think he leaves out the important detail that he agreeed to do the 
task himself. This explains why Dumbledore is not worried when Harry 
tells him about the UV. He believed that Snape has told him the whole 
story, and Harry has no specific info on the details of the Vow. I 
can even see a possible 'out' in the wording of the Vow in the event 
that Draco were to renounce the task and go into hiding under DD's 
protection. Then Draco will never 'seem to fail' and Snape will be 
off the hook. (Possibly Snape even has this thought before taking the 
Vow...)

OK, now to the tower scene. What is Snape's siutation? Draco has
finally made his move. And, he has failed, in the presence of other
DEs, to kill Dumbledore. As I see it, Snape at this point can either
1) Kill DD, or 2) not do it, and die for failing to live up to his
UV. Snape goes with Option 1). Not because he truly serves LV, not
because he hates DD, not because of some prearranged plan which 
requires DD to die at this point, but simply to save his own life. 
The look of "hatred and revulsion" is as supporters of the "good 
Snape" theories would agree, aimed at himself/the act he is 
committing. (But he still does it...)

And the later scene (also mentioned by many a "good Snape" supporter)
in which Snape reacts so strongly to Harry calling him a
coward (for killing an unarmed DD is implied in that accusation, to 
my mind)...well, to me the strength of the reaction indicates that
Snape *agrees* with Harry's estimation at that point. He's just
killed a man who trusted and helped him in order to save his own
life, and is ashamed of his own action.

This definitely leaves open the possibility of Snape related plots 
for Book 7. His guilt could inspire him to some kind of sabotage in 
LVs camp (no need to coordinate with Order mambers of Harry for this 
type of action), or he could have some sort of "redemptive" scene 
where he does die protecting some other character (Draco?), or 
something like that. (I am fairly convinced that Snape will not 
survive Book 7.)

(I probably come across as a Good!Snape theorist in other posts. This 
is wishful thinking on my part-what I *hope* happened/will happen, 
not what I *think* happened.)