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

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 162531


> 
> 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>.
> 

Julie:
I need some clarifications on the difference between
DDM!Snape and Grey!Snape. First, is it the contention of
Grey!Snapers that Snape was not doing Dumbledore's bidding
on the Tower? Rather than Dumbledore pleading with Snape
to fulfill his Unbreakable Vow for a higher purpose (to
save Draco and Harry, and himself as he could be of more
value to the effort to defeat Voldemort), Dumbledore was
pleading with Snape *not* to kill him, even if in an 
indirect way (Don't choose this path, don't tear your
soul, etc)?

Or *was* Snape doing Dumbledore's bidding with a great 
deal of resentment (as perhaps we observe in Snape's
look of hatred and revulsion as he performs the AK), 
and it's the contention of Grey!Snapers that this 
resentment will cause Snape to waver in his loyalty
during the next book?

It's hard for me to see it working either way. If 
Grey!Snape killed Dumbledore to save himself while
Dumbledore was pleading for Snape not to do it, it
still leaves the question of *how* Dumbledore knew
what Snape was about to do even before Snape actually
reached him (remember, Dumbledore uttered his first 
"Please..." as Snape was approaching, before they 
even made eye contact). And if Grey!Snape killed 
Dumbledore at Dumbledore's request and his resentment
at being forced into that act has eroded his loyalty
to Dumbledore, well, how will we ever know it? We
don't get Snape's POV ever in the books, and I can't
see a reason why or how Harry would become privy to
Snape's indecisive thoughts or acts (since he assumes
all Snape's thoughts and acts are traitorous anyway).
Furthermore, how would it even play into the plot?

It's not likely Snape will have that large a role in
Book Seven. In the end he will either help Harry or
he won't. And Harry's final impression will simply
be one of two--ESE!Snape ("Aha, I always knew it!!")
or DDM!Snape ("Looks like he really was on our side
all along, and I'll have to respect that even if he's
still a miserable git!"). And Harry's impressions are
generally the readers' impressions, because we know
only as much as Harry does.

At least that's the only way I can see it all coming
down. While there may be time to delve a bit into the
shades of grey that make up Snape's character, and how
that character was shaped by his past choices, I can't
see precious plot time in Book 7 devoted to explaining
Grey!Snape as presented here--a Snape whose loyalties
are *still* wavering (if I'm understanding correctly)
as opposed to loyal to Dumbledore (DDM), loyal to 
Voldemort (ESE), or loyal only to himself (OFH). 

Julie, still baffled by Grey!Snape