High Noon for OFH!Snape

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 149505

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Why would a man intent on protecting his own hide risk his life 
> > in such a massive way?
 
> >>PJ:
> Until the 3rd provision there was no risk!

Betsy Hp:
Um, there's his life?  That's what makes an Unbreakable Vow 
unbreakable, right?  You die if it breaks?  And Draco was embarking 
on a task *everyone* was sure would kill him.  Why would OFH!Snape 
risk attaching his life to that of a boy who was probably going to 
die soon?

> >>PJ:
> He was promising to do exactly what he'd planned to do, what he    
> *had* been doing, all along.

Betsy Hp:
Why would OFH!Snape seriously care what happened to Draco Malfoy?  
I'm not sure why I should take OFH!Snape at his word when he says 
he'd willing defy one all powerful wizard to help a young boy try 
and kill another all powerful wizard.  It seems to go against 
the "out for himself" code of behavior.

> >>PJ:
> So what you're saying is that just because someone puts their own 
> wants and needs first that this person is incapable of having     
> *any* friends? That's not very realistic, and JKR creates pretty   
> realistic characters for her story.

Betsy Hp:
No, I'm saying that someone who puts their own wants and needs 
first, puts their own wants and needs first.  They don't risk 
themselves for others.  Not even for their friends.  Which is 
realistic actually.  I've known plenty of people like this.  Good 
fun at a party.  No good if you need any kind of help.

> >>Alla: (message #149469)
> I just said above that caring for Malfoys maybe included in OFH!
> Snape goals, for the reasons we are not privy too yet.

Betsy Hp:
So there's a super secret reason OFH!Snape would bag his self-
interest game and risk it all for the Malfoys?  Doesn't this take 
the story line away from Harry? <veg>

> >>PJ:
> Maybe I'm not understanding you but it looks like you're trying to 
> make him a 2 dimensional character.  Either he's all good or he's 
> all bad with no room in the middle for blatently self centered,    
> and it can't work... He's much more complex than that imo...

Betsy Hp:
Me?  Oh, heck no!  I love my complex and complicated, all too human, 
sexy, intelligent, passionate and noble DDM!Snape.  It's illogical, 
2-D, OFH!Snape that I'm going against. 

Not that OFH!characters have to be 2-D.  Peter Pettigrew is a 
perfect example of someone out for themselves, and that little rat 
is a wonderfully rounded character.  Especially considering his lack 
of page time.  

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > I'm also confused as to how the Vow would prove his loyalty to   
> > Voldemort... <snip>

> >>PJ: 
> Read what I wrote again please.  I said it would help convince    
> *Bellatrix* of his loyalty and get her off his back.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
No, I got you the first time.  I'm just confused as to why Bellatrix 
would take this as an example of loyalty to *Voldemort*.  Snape does 
prove that he's willing to take action, to put his money where his 
mouth is, but it has nothing to do with loyalty to Voldemort.

And Bellatrix knows it.  She continues to work against Snape after 
this meeting is over, as per the way Draco starts avoiding Snape 
throughout the rest of HBP.

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Um, okay.  So OFH!Snape is also a danger freak?  He took the Vow
> > because he was looking for a rush?

> >>Nora:
> No, I'm the slight danger freak. :)  But we both have a certain
> confidence in our abilities to navigate difficult situations, maybe
> to the point where ohh, it's going to hurt if we mess up.  (Trees
> hurt.  A lot.)  Hence the upthread somewhere worries about hubris.

Betsy Hp:
Oh.  So, Snape doesn't take the Vow because he likes to live life on 
the edge.  But he *does* take the Vow because... he likes to live 
life on the edge?  First off, I'm confused as to your point.  But 
second off, this makes no sense with an OFH character.  If Snape 
showed signs of risking everything because he was such a massive 
risk taker because he knew he could handle it, I guess I could get 
your hubris answer. But I don't recall any such moments in canon.  

Because you seem to be suggesting Snape only takes the Vow because 
it's "ooh, shiny danger!".  I'm not sure how that supports an OFH!
Snape argument.

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > "Unemotional, impossible to read"!Snape was there instead.  And
> > it's impossible (having seen the tries <g>) to assign a logical
> > reason for OFH!Snape to make such a choice.

> >>Nora:
> I dunno if I'd call it unemotional, being as Narcissa's romance   
> novel heroine theatrics seem to do *something*...

Betsy Hp:
Yeah, but I'm talking about Snape, not Narcissa.  There wasn't a 
CAPSLOCK moment in sight.  Especially when he decides to take the 
Vow.

> >>Nora:
> To counter your assertion, a good portion of the DDM!Snape argument
> is based on thematic arguments of personal preference.  "Oh, it    
> would be so mean and unfair if he weren't good in the long run.    
> JKR would be sending bad messages about second chances and        
> Slytherins and underdogs.  It would totally ruin Dumbledore's     
> character if he were mistaken about Snape and Harry were right,   
> because Harry is the student who has to learn from his mentor.  It 
> would totally ruin the entire theme of the books."

Betsy Hp:
Those arguments certainly add spice, but the meat of the DDM!Snape 
argument is all text.  From PS/SS to HBP Snape has been saving the 
day and supporting Dumbledore more than any other character in the 
series.  It is nice that DDM!Snape also keeps the rest of the 
Potterverse folk in character and fits in with what appears to be 
the intended theme of the series.  That sort of continuity is hard 
to argue with. <g>

Betsy Hp