Understanding Snape

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 153535

Nora:

> I think there's a third option here, actually implied 
> by the original post, which is being missed:
 
> IF Snape is playing two sides against the middle--and 
> thus has both  the ability and occasionally the motivation 
> to work for either side-

houyhnhnm:

But if Snape is playing both ends against the middle, 
then he is not a loyal Death Eater.

There are three basic Snape theories, as I understand 
the discussions that have taken place on this board.

One is that Snape joined the Death Eaters but "returned 
to our side" some time before the events at Godric's 
Hollow and has been loyal to Dumbledore ever since. (DDM!Snape)

Another is that he only pretended to return to "our side", 
was loyal to Voldemort until LV's destruction, remained 
true to the beliefs of the Dark Order during the Vapor!Mort 
years, and returned to Voldemort as a loyal Death Eater 
when LV regained his body. (ESE!Snape or maybe a better 
description would be Voldemort's Man!Snape)

A third is that Snape has his own agenda, may be working 
for the overthrow of LV, but not out of loyalty either to 
Dumbledore or to the Order of the Phoenix.(OFH!Snape 
and variations)

The third theory is the one you appear to be espousing. 
Obviously Snape cannot be Dumbledore's man in OotP and 
Voldemort's in HBP. That makes no sense.  If he was 
working for the Order in OotP and against it in HBP, 
then he would have to have been out for himself all 
along. I'm not sure that *that* theory can be falsified 
(though I think wynnleaf makes a good case, based on 
Snape's actions the night of Wormtail's escape).

However I think the Voldemort's Man!Snape theory can 
be falsified by Snape's actions in OotP.  If so, then 
his statements to Bellatrix at Spinner's End, to Draco 
the night of the Christmas party, and to the DEs during 
the Flight of the Prince, have to be interpreted in that 
light. For instance, the fact that Snape spared Harry 
on the Dark Lord's orders cannot be used to refute DDM!Snape.  
Snape may have had his own reasons for sparing Harry, 
reasons that had nothing to do with loyalty to Dumbledore, 
but he was not acting on the Dark Lord's orders.

That was my point.