Harry's assumption VS Everyone's assumption

[Kelly Molinari]

No: HPFGUIDX 151662

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, 
>
> Arief Hamid wrote:
  <snip>
> > One thing that's confusing me most, how come Dumbledore
> > trusted Snape so much and seems like ignoring the
> > statements and facts that given by Harry, that Snape
> > is nothing more than a treacherous member of the
> > order. What makes DD believes that Snape's is worthed
> > every bit to be in the order and will protect the
> > order with all his might. <snip>


>Kelly, the meanmommyfish, responds: 

I am probably going out on a limb, but here goes...

   IMHO there is only one thing that could have convinced DD to trust
Snape as he does and that is Snape's complicity in "the plan". 

   At the time of Trelawney's prophecy the Wizarding World was in
great turmoil. Voldemort was wreaking havoc everywhere. Wizards were
afraid to leave their homes, to trust their own family members.
Dumbledore had to get rid of him, too much bad *stuff* was going down.
I believe Dumbledore concocted a plan to set a trap for Voldemort, and
he not only used Snape to pull it off, but he convinced Snape to be
the executioner. 
   
   Dumbledore could not let this chance go by. He needed to protect
"the chosen one", whoever it would be, until he/she was ready and able
to fight the Dark Lord, whenever that may be. At this point I believe
that Dumbledore had some idea of what Voldemort had done to ensure his
immortality; he figured that Voldemort had some horcruxes and that
those horcruxes would not allow for the total destruction of the Dark
Lord. Therefore, he knew that whatever he did would be temporary, just
enough to buy some time until the Dark Lord found a way to return. 
  
  In order to maximize his options Dumbledore needed to protect "the
chosen one" as long as possible. Dumbledore admits that even his own
complex protective spells would not be able to withstand Voldemort's
knowledge of magic if/when he ever returned to power (OoP US pg. 835).
So he dug deep and found this ancient magic, a magic he knew Voldemort
would underestimate, that would allow a mother's sacrifice to protect
the life of her child until he/she became of age. But whom to provide
this magic?  Whom to cast the spell? Why, none other than our hero,
that greasy-haired, magic-geek himself, Severus Snape.
  
  At the time he overheard the prophecy, be it part or whole, Snape
was a card carrying member of the Death Eaters, looking to move up in
the Dark Magic world. However, once reality set in, he knew he'd never
be able to surpass Voldemort; he'd never have "the power". He was
pursuing a fruitless cause. He was a prime candidate to jump ship.
Dumbledore knew Snape was at a dead end, so he made him an offer he
couldn't refuse.  He knew of Snape's abilities, knew he was the
perfect man for the job. Dumbledore was able to enlist Snape into the
Order. I believe Dumbledore did it that very night when Snape was
caught by the barman. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort would jump at the
chance to circumvent the prophecy by immediately destroying the
threat. They set him up.  
  
  We know Dumbledore believed that lives would have to be sacrificed
to save the Wizarding World. When he realized that Harry Potter was
the marked man (sorry, no pun intended), they approached Lily. I
believe the three of them were in this together, they made "a choice
between what is right and what is easy" (GoF US pg 724).  I also
believe that Snape was very remorseful when he realized which
wizarding child Voldemort would attack; I don't think Snape was
prepared for it to hit so close to home, feelings for James Potter not
withstanding. I don't believe Dumbledore lied to Harry when he said
that. I think that Dumbledore tells Harry selective tidbits of
information, a true manipulator. Now that Voldemort had started this
fight Dumbledore needs Harry to finish it. How could he reveal the
whole truth,  divulge Snape's true loyalties to a boy who can't
protect his own thoughts, implicate himself in that boy's mother's
death, however complicit she was, and risk loosing Harry's trust? 
   
  IMO the mere fact that Snape came through for him is the reason
Dumbledore trusts him. Snape could never be loyal to the Dark Lord
after having betrayed him in the way that he did. Snape made a choice,
and after all, Dumbledore believes that "it is our choices that show
what we truly are, far more than our abilities" (CoS US pg. 333). 



 justcarol67 wrote:
<snip>
> Snape is a complex, mysterious character, important enough to be in
> all of the books and to have revelations regarding his backstory. I
> have a feeling he'll be important in Book 7, too. IMO, Harry's
> recognition of who and what Snape truly is and how much he has
> sacrificed for Dumbledore will be crucial to Harry in the fight
> against LV in the final book. 
<snip>



 the meanmommyfish responds:

  IMO Snape will be more important to the climax of this story than we
can imagine. I sometimes wonder how this story would have played out
if it had been titled, "The Half Blood Prince and ... "
   Harry will have to come to grips with some major maturity issues,
especially with regards to Snape, if he is going to succeed against
Voldemort. Hopefully he will, only time will tell.

  

  Thanks for wading through all of that. It was my first post, so go
easy on me, please.