OFH SNAPE was: Script from JKR's reading/ About Snape and Dumbledore

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 156988


> PJ:
> Sorry, but every time I hear that phrase "Dumbledore trusted Snape 
> completely" I can't help but think that, while accurate, it's 
still an 
> incomplete thought...
> 
> For example, he doesn't hesitate for a minute to say he trusts 
Hagrid *with 
> his life* but he's never once said that about Snape and DD's 
usually very 
> precise and careful with the words he uses.  I think he's the type 
who 
> would've said it if he actually felt that way about Snape. Thing 
is, saying 
> you trust someone completely isn't at all the same thing as 
trusting someone 
> with your life.  

Magpie:
I think it's a much greater trust in this context.  DD trusts Hagrid 
with his life because that's the right kind of trust to have in 
Hagrid.  It doesn't depend on his judgment.  (And even there DD 
sends Hagrid to guard Harry while shopping in HBP and Hagrid does a 
bad job.  He trusts that Hagrid's heart is always on the side of 
protecting him (DD) and Harry.  Trusting Snape "completely" is a 
much bigger deal, imo, particularly in the context that Harry's 
asking about. Hagrid is a guy he trusts to protect him in a fight to 
the death.  Snape's the guy he trusts to go into Voldemort's camp as 
a spy and use his own judgment and not get seduced by the DA again.

PJ:
Especially when he feels the need to slowly stop and 
> *consider* the question as he did with Harry in HBP.   His answer 
felt more 
> like a "I completely trust Severus to _____" if you know what I 
mean?

Magpie:
It felt like the exact opposite to me--and it is a complete 
thought.  To me it read, iirc, that DD considered telling Harry the 
story, then just left it at the fact that he trusted him completely.

PJ: 
> I think Dumbledore found out that Snape had an obsession which 
turned out to 
> be an important part of DD's plan and the two of them have been 
working 
> together on that one thing.  He trusts Snape completely to 
accomplish it 
> because Snape's like a dog with a bone when he wants something 
badly.   
> However, I don't think DD considers Snape a good guy on the side 
of the 
> light.  No where does Dumbledore "tweak" McG or Flitwick or any of 
the other 
> teachers but he's *always* doing it to Snape.  The House Cup 
Banquet, the 
> flying car incident, the PoA ending, the "Granny Hat" in the 
cracker... I 
> don't honestly think Dumbledore *likes* Snape!


Magpie:
I actually think the "tweaking" bit does indicate some affection--
and trust, actually.  If he really doesn't think Snape is good he'd 
be a fool to tempt him to lash out, wouldn't he?  

But even more so I just don't see JKR writing the story of DD who 
kept a bad guy on a leash when DD seems to be all about second 
chances.  I thought DD's last scene in the Tower revealed what he 
was all about, especially to a person like Snape.

-m