OFH! Snape again. WAS: Straightforward readings?

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 140773

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.

Sherry now:

I like your thoughts on that, Alla. I would also like to add, that 
Pippin's question got me thinking. It seems to me that OFH Snape is 
the perfect embodiment of the negative side of Slytherin. He is not 
loyal to either side; he is out to do the best for himself. It may 
not be as complicated as wanting to be the next dark lord. It could 
just be that he turns his coat, depending on which side he believes 
to be the most powerful at the time, and or the one that can give him 
the most at the time. Whether that be recognition, reward, honor, 
dark arts ... I don't have a clue. But the whole essence of out for 
himself Snape would be that he is out to pick the side that will win, 
in his estimation, and the side that will ultimately give him the 
best, whatever that might be to him. It could actually explain
so much of Snape, without him having to be either Dumbledore's or
Voldemort's man. The ultimate Slytherin, out to save his own skin.


vmonte:
I agree with both of you. OFH Snape has always seemed (to me anyway) 
the best way to make sense of Snape's character. The Order and the 
DEs seem to have him pegged as either or, but I think that the 
confusion completely stems from the fact that Snape is not easily 
pegged. Both sides are looking at him in the wrong way. 

Vivian

Who thinks that a device that stops time would be more effective than 
using a time-turner to finish the enormous pile of work that is 
sitting in front of her.  Too bad someone didn't have one of those on 
the tower.