EBA!Snape

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 162550

Bart:

> I figure it's about time to put a label on my own favorite Snape
theory: Evil but Allied. ape's point of view...
<snip>
> The point is that Snape's cruelty, his, face it, evil nature is NOT
an act. He IS as reprehensible as he seems. But, like the generals who
turned against Hitler, he sees that Lord Voldemort is, even by his own
standards, thoroughly evil, and is willing to do whatever he can to
stop him
<snip>
> Was he Dumbledore's man? Not really; at best, he was an ally, not a
friend. He did what Dumbledore said not because Dumbledore said it,
but because Dumbledore was right. His arguments with Dumbledore showed
that he was quite capable of disobeying Dumbledore if he disagreed. 


Sydney:

Heh.  Okay, I'll call this, DDM-but-I-still-don't-have-to-like-him
Snape!  For the most part it's fine by me and I don't see where it is,
in fact, inconsistent with DDM!Snape as I see him. If Snape's
behaviour in the books to the kids makes you classify him as having an
evil nature there's nothing in the last book, IMO, that will change
your mind, and different opinions on the subject are natural and
irresolvable.  It will fall forever into the "Is Hermione a
power-hungry Nietzchian Superwoman or a sweet crusader for social
justice who gets a little overenthusiastic sometimes?"  Or, "The
Twins:  loathesome bullies you'd cross the street to avoid or Lovable
Troublemakers with a heart of gold?"  That's the whole glory of the
series.

I only have a couple of minor quibbles:

Barty:

>And it was clear that Dumbledore could not trust him 100%; he not
>only dropped Harry's Occlumancy lessons, but, as is obvious through
>context, failed to tell Dumbledore that he had. But, while Dumbledore
>could not always trust the man, he DID know where his loyalties lay,
>and that is where he found Snape to be trustworthy. 

Sydney:

"I trust Severus Snape completely".  I just don't understand why you
would throw this out.  Dumbledore, having a broad church, can and
obviously does have a different opinion of Snape's evil nature than
you do.  Lupin (is it?  or McGonnegal?  I can't remember) says that
Dumbledore "wouldn't hear a word against him".  He gets quite worked
up to Harry trying to get across Snape's agonizing remorse. 
Personally I think Dumbledore and Snape had an obviously very
problematic, but deep relationship.

And it's not obvious at all in the context that Snape didn't tell
Dumbledore that he'd stopped the lessons.  Surely Lupin would have
told him?  Or Sirius?  Why would Snape himself assume that Dumbledore
wouldn't find out?  Dumbledore gives a heavy sigh and says 'there are
wounds too deep to heal' and the knows all about it.  It stretches
credibility to me, from what we're shown about Snape, that he wouldn't
send an immediate owl to D-dore saying, "Dear Dumbledore.  Given up on
your precious golden boy.  What are you gonna do, fire me?  No,
seriously, please, please fire me.  Love, Snape."

-- Sydney, starting to panic on the Christmas knitting front