OFH! Snape again. WAS: Straightforward readings?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 140771

Pippin: 
> What OFH! Snape doesn't explain is why Snape should bother -- 
> he doesn't seem to be a thrill-seeker like James or Sirius, so why 
> should he  undertake such a risky course, in which he can 
ultimately 
> rely neither on Dumbledore's protection nor Voldemort's? 

Alla:

I think that Snape sees  it not as most risky course, actually. I 
speculate that Snape sees it as SAFEST course, actually, the one 
which can assure his ultimate survival and if that ultimately he 
chose Evil, may probably make him the next Dark Lord OR if he does 
not choose Evil to help him survive and in Snape's mind let him help 
good guys.


Pippin: 
> It's not as though spying is all he knows how to do. He's obviously
> not after popularity, nor wealth, nor influence.


Alla:

LOL! I don't know about whether Snape is after wealth or not, but he 
is OBVIOUSLY not after popularity or influence? Sorry, but I think 
that it is quite obvious that Snape IS after popularity and 
influence. JMO, of course.

"I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard" - PoA, p.423. 
I understand of course that Lupin is not the most reliable witness 
for you ( although I completely believe his words :-)), but then how 
about Dumbledore's " he is not unbalanced, he just suffered a severe 
dissapointment"?

Dissapointment that Snape would not be able to be everybody's hero, 
get Order of Merlin, First Class, and watch execution of Sirius and 
Remus, approved by MoM, maybe?

We also have of course some small things - as in insistence on 
calling himself Potions Master, while no other teacher does so, 
well, Flitwick at least definitely does not, some other stuff - like 
his tirads to Harry ( you should thank me on the bended knee), but I 
think his temper tantrum at the end of PoA really illustrates his 
desire to be popular the best.

Pippin:
 If he's into the Dark
> Arts so thoroughly, why park himself at Hogwarts, where there's no
> opportunity to practice them? Wouldn't Durmstrang have suited him 
> better? Karkaroff's an old friend; surely he would have been 
welcome? 


Alla:

Because he wants to stay out of Azkaban MORE than he wants to openly 
practice Dark Arts, maybe? And as we know Dumbledore's protection 
was the only thing that kept him out of Azkaban.

I am not sure if Dumbledore would agree ( well, he probably would 
agree - he is that kind of guy, dear Headmaster), or whether he 
would be able to shelter Snape from Azkaban if he went to 
Durmstrangs. Too far away from Hogwarts, IMO.

So, Snape stays and bites his time, picking and choosing which side 
to take and  the starting point where he starts to choose NOT 
Dumbledore's side would be the end of POA, where Dumbledore ( in 
Snape mind) let him be publickly mocked and humiliated.

I don't think that Snape is the kind of guy, who takes humiliation 
well, personally, even if it is only in his mind.

I really like this line of thought, even if it is mostly 
speculative, because I believe that there are signs which may 
support it.


Just my opinion.

Alla