ESE, DDM, OFH, or Grey? (WAS: DDM!Snape the definition)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 162508

Sydney:
> I still don't think we see any indecision *scenes* with Snape, as
> you would sort of need to establish him as a weak and indecisive
> character.  So far he's been Mr. Snap-Judgement Action Man Who
> Won't Change His Mind About Anything Without Being Dragged Kicking
> and Screaming.  With only one book left it seems a little late in
> the game to introduce this vital new facet to his character.

Jen: The twitch?  The fight in the forest?  The pause while 
Dumbledore pleads?  I know DDM explains these things a certain way 
but they don't have to be explained that way, JKR could have another 
explanation called wavering <g>.

Essential to Grey!Snape is Debbie's idea that Snape has developed a 
very tight control over himself and a resulting confidence in his 
abilites; these two things lead to a Snape who believes he can pass 
through the double agent experience 'unscathed' as Debbie aptly puts 
it.  I would add Snape expects he will be able to continue slithering 
out of unsavory jobs that the True Believers in both camps have to 
engage in.  Instead he will work alone, one man traveling light with 
his Occlumency.

Well by HBP things aren't going so hot.  He's aware the DE's think he 
got out of the dirty work at the MOM and he has company at his little 
abode in the form of a rat.  And lo and behold, who should arrive on 
his doorstep but a beautiful sobbing lady in need of a Prince to save 
the day?  Combine that with the grinding months of practicing 
Occlumency, being surrounded by reminders of his old life, and 
Dumbledore arriving half-dead in need of patching up (how much 
Occlumency does *that* take to hide) and suddenly life as a spy is 
not exactly how he imagined it.  

Oh! And let's add the probability Snape already had the DADA job by 
the time Narcissa arrives, activating the curse which brings out the 
worst in a person and hasn't been foiled in 40 years. 

So yes, *that* Snape I see wavering regardless of how forceful his 
actions prior or how tight his control.  He is starting to slip and 
that potential loss of control terrifies and enrages him, the thought 
he could ever be 'weak' again.  As Dumbledore asks more and more of 
Snape throughout HBP (and in OOTP as well), Harry is getting a taste 
of what it's like to work for Dumbledore.  He has been treated as 
special by Dumbledore, just like Snape always sneers about, and those 
days are coming to an end with the final culmination at the potion 
bowl, force-feeding Dumbledore poison.  This common experience will 
be a point of intersection for them (like DDM).

Sydney:
> Actually, from that point of view you might well get your Grey!
> Snape, if we have enough flashback material in Book VII. There's 
> good reason to expect that Snape's *first* descision making will be
> on-screen, along with whatever Dramatic Scene made Dumbledore trust
> him so much.  Pensive flashbacks that Harry can witness would serve
> a much better story purpose than expository non-POV chapters, which
> JKR has used till now to set up suspense more than exposition.

Jen: I see young Snape as similar to Draco in the way he was drawn 
into the world of Voldemort though I don't think he believed like 
Draco believes, likely he was disillusioned with the alternatives 
more than anything else!  But Snape was surrounded by the DE culture 
in Slytherin house and that along with a possible growing interest in 
dark arts could be contributing factors.  I don't see Grey!Snape 
developing then so much as I do after he returned to Dumbledore.  
Whatever happened, and I assume it was loss of a loved one at the 
hands of LV or threat of such a loss (like Draco), that was the time 
period Snape must have started developing Occlumency skills and was 
determined not to let his emotions get the better of him again.  His 
loyalty to Dumbledore wasn't really tested until the point Voldemort 
returns and by that point Snape is quite confident about his 
abilities as we see during the Occlumency lessons.  

> Debbie, realizing that she appears to have almost talked herself
> into DDM!Snape

Jen, hoping Debbie won't hop into the other camp just yet <g>.