seeds of betrayal

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 149654

> Alla:
> 
> Erm... yes, Snape DOES go on about Prank at the very least in the 
> Hospital wing, that is of course unless we will learn about another 
> attempt on Snape's life made by Sirius. ( I don't believe that 
> Sirius attempted to kill Snape at all of course, but we are talking 
> about Snape POV here, right?)
> 
> "Sirius Black showed that he was capable of murder at the age of 
> sixteen," he breathed. "You haven't forgotten that. Headmaster? You 
> haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?" - PoA, p.391.
> 
> If this is not the sign of seething resentment, I don't know what 
is.

zgirnius:
Oh yes, the hospital wing. My post was already sooo long, but now 
that you mention it:

What does Snape believe is Sirius's entire defense, by the time he 
gets to the hospital wing? Based on the various snippets he has 
heard, I think he grasps that Peter Pettigrew may be alive. But I 
think that is the entirety of it, as far as Snape has figured out. In 
other words, Snape thinks Sirius is just trying to say he didn't 
murder Peter. Hence the comment he makes-it goes to Sirius's supposed 
defense. ('Does it really matter he didn't kill some particular 
person? We know he's *capable* of it...') 

After the escape of Sirius, Snape has a discussion with Fudge in 
which he accuses Harry of being involved in the escape. Dumbledore 
interrupts him, points out the kids have been locked in the room all 
this time, and says, "Unless you are suggesting that Harry and 
Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see 
any point in troubling them further." Snape leaves the room without a 
word. My take on this is that Snape realizes that Harry and Hermione 
CAN be in two places at one time, and concludes from Dumbledore's 
statement that HE told then to Time Turn (and is thus very much 
himself involved in helping Black to escape, indicating that he does 
trust Black.) Since Snape knows Dumbledore (like him) holds Sirius 
responsible for the deaths of the Potters, it is probably only at 
this point that he has to consider that he may not know the whole 
story.

He still hasn't figured out the Secret Keeper switch, but he realizes 
that, for whatever reason, Dumbledore trusts Sirius. Presumably he 
thereafter figures it out, or has it explained to him by Dumbledore.