Is Snape good or evil? (long)

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 148709


> Alla:

> SURE, if Snape had refused only clause 3 the game would be up, no 
> question about it. What I am NOT sure about is whether the game 
> would be up if Snape refused to take UV at all. But again this is 
> goes from different assumptions we have. I am NOT as sure as you 
are 
> that the meeting was instigated by Voldemort, I can totally see 
> Narcissa going to Snape of her own initiative and Bella tagging 
> along maybe hoping to give Voldemort useful spying info, BUT I see 
> no definite evidence that Voldemort was behind arranging the 
meeting 
> in the first place, from very beginning. 

zgirnius:
If I understood Dungrollin's fabulous post correctly, Snape did not 
necessarily see the hand of Voldemort behind Cissy and Bella's 
actions either, while the conversation was happening. His motive in 
agreeing to the Vow (which he reasonably believed was going to be 
about protecting and watching over and helping Draco, this is what 
had been mentioned in the conversation leading up to Cissy's request) 
and he took the Vow becuase he believed it cost him nothing. 
Dumbledore, who already knew about Draco and his task, would have 
ordered him to look after Draco and save him from the consequences of 
his choice to become a Death Eater if possible, regardless. And, for 
this little cost, Snape could gain the trust of Bella (thus shutting 
up her whispering campaign), Cissy, and perhaps Draco, which might 
let him learn the details of HOW Draco planned to carry out his 
assignment.

It was only when Narcissa cornered him that he would have realized 
who was REALLY behind things.


> Alla:
> 
> I don't think it equals 
> in any way shape or form Snape acknowledging he was wrong in PoA. 
> But that is JMO of course. 

zgirnius: How he treated Sirius in public is one thing. But do you 
really think the way he treats Peter is just due to some personal 
animosity? I personally figured he transferred all of his Potter-
related hatred of Sirius to Peter after realizing his mistake.

> Alla:
> 
> Absolutely, as I said above, he should not have taken UV AT ALL, 
IMO 
> of course. He should have told Narcissa that she is NOT supposed to 
> divulge Dark Lord confidence and threw them both out and Bella 
could 
> have been even happy with it, IMO. But again, I am not sure that 
> meeting was instigated by Voldy.

zgirnius:
But why not? What is wrong with Vowing to protect Draco, if in 
exchange you hope to get the inside dope on his plans to kill 
Dumbledore? I'm not saying your solution is wrong, mind you. It 
isn't, it works just fine. (Though it no more solves Snape's long-
term problem, that Voldemort wants him to kill Dumbledore). I'm 
simply trying to understand why you think Snape's was, based on what 
he knew then.
> Alla:
> 
> Yes, if Snape confessed to DD the third 
> clause right away, I can see your scenario. My only problem is I 
> don't. I see Snape as incredibly arrogant person, I am always right 
> sort of character and if I am wrong, I will deal with it by myself.

zgirnius:
Dungrollin's proposed conversation does have Snape proposing to deal 
with the problem himself...

> Alla:
> What would I think Dumbledore could have done if this situation 
> played out as you described? Probably suggesting trying to fool the 
> UV, since there is no definite time frame in the UV itself.
> 
zgirnius:
Precisely.