Understanding Snape

[againstsnape]

No: HPFGUIDX 153444

During HBP, the question of where Snape's loyalties lie is an important
question. This question isn't answered by the end of the book. Here is
my theory:

1)  Snape was a Death-Eater until he knew that Voldemort was going to
murder the Potters. At this point, I believe, as a result of his life
debt to James, he either decided he had to warn DD, or else the life
debt forced him to.

2) Once he did this, he realized that he would have to explain to
Voldemort why he went to DD. I believe, at this point, he decided that
in order to survive, he woud have to live a double life - a spy on DD
for Voldemort, and a spy on Voldemort for DD.

3) Voldemort's downfall at the Potters' was good news for Snape - he
would be able to live a single life, without having to worry about what
the other side would do to him. At this position, he obviously would
make Lupin his potion (which Lupin would later use as evidence that
Snape is a good guy!).

4) During GF, Snape and DD planned what Snape would do when Voldemort
returned to power. DD believed that Snape would be a good guy` Snape
resumes his double agent job.
During the year, he was confronted by Karkaroff. Being good at
Legilimency, he knew that Karkaroff was not going to join Voldemort, so
he said that he will stay with DD.

5) Snape saved DD after DD was hurt in the capture of the ring Horcrux,
because he was worried that if he didn't, DD would live long enough to
tell someone else about it. I think that Snape would have prefered that
DD would die, as this would, in his opinion, be the beginning of the end
of the forces against Voldemort.
The unbreakable vow was also a necessity to convince Narcissa and
Bellatrix that he is on their side. He probably knew every loophole in
the vow he made, in order to not kill DD.

6) At the end of HBP, he realized that his life as a double-agent has
ended, so he took the side he thought was winning - Voldemort. He
probably thought that once he killed DD, Voldemort's victory was a sure
thing.

I think that this explains all of Snape's actions duing the series.

                                             Against Snape



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