seeds of betrayal

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 149647

Sherry's excellent post tracing the roots of Snape's betrayal (in her 
view) has inspired me to write up my own recent ideas about PoA. I, 
too, have reread PoA carefully in light of the new information we 
have from HBP. My views are rather the reverse of Sherry's. HBP has 
caused me to see the events of PoA, most especially Snape's actions 
at the end of the book, in an entirely different light. And one which 
(surpise!) is a DDM!Snape view of the events.

And my conclusion is that the Prank, and `Snape's Grudge' may well 
serve as red herrings, to explain Snape's otherwise inexplicable 
behavior to the reader in PoA without leading us to suspect things 
which will later become important. This is not to say that Snape has 
no resentment of the Marauders left over from his school days. In 
fact, I think Snape's view of Lupin in particular does reflect his 
view of Lupin's actions as a schoolboy.

It is interesting (to me, anyway!) that Snape actually says NOTHING 
about Sirius and his involvement in the infamous Prank, or about the 
Marauder/Snape conflict more generally, AT ALL in the entire 
Shrieking Shack scene. It is other characters (Lupin and Harry) who 
keep bringing it up, reinforcing for the reader the idea that Snape's 
CAPSLOCK behavior in this scene is based on his bitterness towards 
Sirius for the Prank (and possible other bullying). 

However, HBP has hinted at a possible alternative reason for Snape to 
be so murderously angry with Sirius. We now know that Snape was the 
eavesdropper who reported the Prophecy to Voldemort. And, Dumbledore 
believes that Snape felt great remorse about this when he realized 
the Potters were Voldemort's targets-which would mean that he now 
feels a great deal of guilt for the Potters' deaths. If the Potter's 
Secret Keeper had not betrayed them, they might still be alive and 
Snape would not have that burden of guilt. So, it is certainly 
possible that in PoA, Snape blames Sirius for causing the death of 
the Potters even while Snape was trying to make up for his initial 
reporting of the prophecy.

Let's recap. Snape enters the Shack under Harry's Invisibility Cloak, 
while Lupin is talking. (They hear the door creak). Then Lupin 
resumes speaking and gives the tale of how he was bitten, and how he 
nonetheless got to go to school and make great friends who all became 
Animagi. Lupin admits he feels badly that he has not warned 
Dumbledore all year about Sirius being an Animagus, saying 'Snape's 
been right about me all along'.

Sirius wonders what Snape had to do with anything, Lupin explains 
that Snape is teaching at Hogwarts and launches into his explanation 
of the Prank. Harry says, "So that's why Snape doesn't like you, 
because he thought you were in on the joke?"
Snape reveals himself, saying "That's right". So, the Prank is first 
brought to our attention in this scene by Lupin.

Snape explains how he saw Lupin on the Map, and how is pleased to 
finally have the proof for his suspicions of Lupin. He's not nice 
about it at all, but he makes no reference to the Prank/Marauders 
treatment of him more generally. 

Lupin says (again, the grudge is brought up, but not by Snape!), "You 
fool, is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside 
Azkaban?"

Snape neither confirms nor denies the motive which Lupin attributes 
to him. He responds by tying up Lupin. When Sirius responds by 
roaring at him in rage and starting at him, Snape says 'Give me a 
reason. Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will.' Again, 
totally nonspecific.

Now, Hermione intervenes. Snape berates the Trio for being out of 
bounds, and then goes CAPSLOCK: "KEEP QUIET YOU STUPID GIRL! DON'T 
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Which certainly again has 
nothing to do with the Prank or Snape's schooldays, and, arguably, is 
reflecting Snape's opinion that the others present do not understand 
what his motives. (Which, if he's all upset about Sirius's betrayal 
of the Potters, is the simple truth.)

There follows an interaction in which Snape gloats about how he 
wanted to be the one to catch Sirius, and about taking him to the 
Dementors. Again, with no explanation offered by Snape why he wants 
vengeance, or to be the one to catch Sirius.

Then Harry steps in. He defends Lupin, pointing out Lupin did not 
harm him when he had the opportunities during the school year. Snape 
tells him to get out of the way, again, no mention of the Potters, or 
of the Prank. 

Now Harry goes CAPSLOCK: "JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT 
SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN-" (Again, the prank is brought up, and 
again, NOT by Snape.)

Snape's reponse: "SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT! Like 
father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you should be 
thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd 
killed you! Just like your father, too arrogant to believe you might 
be mistaken in Black-now get out of the way, or I will make you. GET 
OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!"
THIS, I claim, is a reference to the betrayal of the Potters by 
Sirius. And it is the ONLY mention of a past event which could be a 
motive for his actions by Snape in the entire scene. The mentions of 
the Prank are by Lupin (thrice) and Harry.

Snape is knocked out at this point.

I am increasingly convinced that Rowling introduced the Prank at this 
point in the series (PoA) as a red herring. To provide for the 
readers a convincing motive for Snape's behavior, (and one which I 
bought hook, line, and sinker for years) in order to hide a different 
motive she was saving for later. Post HBP, though, the scene just 
looked very different. I do not think it is a coincidence that the 
Prank is brought up several times in the Shack, but never by Snape. I 
think it was done by design, and quite cleverly, to get the readers 
thinking about it. It is not very noticeable that it wasn't Snape 
going on about the Prank at all, since he was being so extremely 
nasty for no other apparent reason that would have occured to us at 
that time.

If this is the case, then Snape might in the long run harbor no 
resentment of Dumbledore for his interference that night. Once he 
learned Sirius was not the Potter's Secret Keeper (and no, none of 
the discussions of the Secret Keeper switch that night occurred while 
Snape was present AND conscious), he quite possibly would not want 
Sirius dead. We might even imagine that Snape would appreciate not 
having a Kiss for Sirius on his conscience. (As he deeply regrets his 
involvement in James's death, perhaps
)

--zgirnius, wishing Irene Mikhlin had not posted her thoughts on 
possible Book 7 handling of Snape, since precisely that scenario has 
been a little nightmare of hers since sometime in August...