OFH! Snape again. WAS: Straightforward readings?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 140778

> >>Alla:
> > > <snip>
> > > 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.
> > > <snip>
 
> >>Sherry:
> > 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.
> > <snip>
  
> >>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. 

Betsy Hp:
There are a few rather large plot holes that speak against OFH!Snape 
to my mind.  The first (and biggest one, IMO) is that Snape joined 
the Order at the very moment when Voldemort's power was at its 
zenith.  He joined the Order *before* Voldemort went off to his 
fateful meeting with baby Harry.  And, as per Lupin, the Death Eaters 
were definitely winning at that time.  How does that fit in with 
Snape merely going with the winners?

Second, why on earth does Snape save Dumbledore's life at the 
beginning of HBP?  He knows Voldemort wants Dumbledore dead.  
Dumbledore was foolish enough and weak enough to get mortally 
wounded, and even with Snape's help is still suffering from a pretty 
serious looking affliction.  If Snape really was working under a "go 
with the strong" morality, why would he stick around once Dumbledore 
gave him an opportunity to get out?  Especially if you figure that if 
Dumbledore died from his wound, Snape could have maintained his 
position as Potion's Master (or DADA Professor).  A position from 
which he could recruit as many young Death Eaters as he wished and 
have easy access to a Harry Potter no longer under Dumbledore's 
protection.

Third, if as you postulate, Alla, Snape decided to flip to 
Voldemort's side after the end of PoA, why does he leave Vapor!Mort 
languishing in Europe?  Why does he leave Peter to collect all the 
glory of being devoted enough to search Voldemort out, and himself in 
a rather precarious position requiring some mighty fast tap-dancing 
once Voldemort reveals himself returned to his little flock at the 
end of GoF?

And finally, why does a Snape who is so willing and able to flip 
sides at a moment's notice, tie himself down with the Unbreakable 
Vow?  I'm not sure where the Vow fits into an OFH! read on Snape's 
character.

To my mind (for what it's worth <g>) the most straightforward read of 
Snape's character, the one with the least plot holes, is DDM!Snape.

Betsy Hp