Understanding Snape

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 153458


> Againstsnape:
> 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.

Leslie41:
Hrm.  Makes some sort of sense.  But not sense that settles things 
*against* Snape.  Rather makes Snape more admirable, for having a 
change of heart.

> Againstsnape: 
> 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.

Leslie41:
No, he didn't have to live as a double agent, nor explain anything 
to Voldemort, because everyone thought Voldemort had been 
annihilated by the AK ricochet off of Harry's forehead.  However, 
from your point of view, as Snape thought the dark side was 
vanquished, he might have wanted to get in good with the winning 
team.  He thus affected a change of heart in order to lead a normal 
life and escape Azkaban (not a view I share, but it's logical).   

> Againstsnape: 
> At this position, he obviously would make Lupin his potion (which 
> Lupin would later use as evidence that Snape is a good guy!).

Leslie41:
Well, Snape could have been making the potion on orders from 
Dumbledore.  Or he could have made it to make people *think* he was 
being nice.  But it's obvious from the story that he made it, made 
it well, delivered it to Lupin himself, and discussed its 
dispensation, much like a pharmacist.  He went above and beyond what 
was required of him, there.

But my feeling is that it's not necessarily because he likes Lupin.  
It's because Snape has a work ethic that even a decades-old grudge 
can't cut through.   

> Againstsnape: 
> 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.  

Leslie41:
Or, Snape healed him because he's on the side of good, and a gifted 
healer (at least of curses that cause physical injury), and because 
he wants to preserve Dumbledore's life.

> Againstsnape:
> The unbreakable vow was also a necessity to convince Narcissa and
> Bellatrix that he is on their side. 

Leslie41:
I'm with you on that one.  

> Againstsnape: 
> 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.

Leslie41:
Except that he could have done far more damage if he had wanted to, 
and really was on the side of "evil".  Killing Flitwick, Hermione 
and Luna, for example, instead of merely stupefying him and using 
that to distract the girls.

Harry is looking for more reasons to be angry with him than the 
killing of DD, but no one involved with the fight can give him any, 
because the only "offensive" thing he's done is AK Dumbledore. 

He could have done sooooooo much more.