Understanding Snape

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 153763

Neri:

> I meant ESE as in Voldemort's Man. Snape's actions suggest he's
> neither Voldemort's man nor Dumbledore's man. Are you saying this
> isn't a possibility? I'd say it's the most straightforward 
possibility. 

houyhnhnm:

Granting that your interpretation of Snape is correct (I don't agree, 
but that's about a hundred other arguments), how does his 
procrastination in alerting the Order advance that interpretation?

If Harry has found a way to get to the Ministry, there are only two 
possible outcomes--Voldemort's success or failure.  Regardless of his 
reasons, Snape must want either one or the other because those are the 
only two possibilities.  What would he gain by having the Order show 
up too late?  With the both the prophecy and the prophecy boy in 
Voldemort's hands, and five other Hogwarts students dead, the game 
would be as good as over.  He wouldn't need his *cover* for much 
longer. So if that's what Snape wants, why alert the Order at all?  
And if he's working for Voldemort's defeat why procrastinate?  I don't 
see how it gains him anything.

What possible reason can there be for Snape to dally around about 
saving Harry from Voldemort be he ever so evilly out for himself?  
That's the relevant question.  Not how long it takes to send and 
receive a patronus, or to search a forest, or what time the sun rises 
in northern Scotland.

The Dumbledore's office scenes nearly always have a description of the 
sky outside (I've been meaning to go through and tally them up to look 
for a pattern.)  Personally, I think Rowling just liked the idea of a 
green streak in the sky because dawn symbolizes beginning and green 
hints at evil.  It is the day, after all, when Harry's life is going 
to change forever, because he will learn about his part in the 
prophecy.