Kant and Snape and Ethics and Everything

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 150263

Pippin:
> If you think about it, what could Snape have said to support 
>  Sirius's story? He *didn't* see any sign of Pettigrew in the shack. 
>  (And why would a rational human being take his eyes off a Death 
> Eater  to look at a rat anyway?) 

Nora:
>For one thing, he could have shut up and stayed disengaged from the  
>situation in the Hospital Wing.  <snip>.  It's  
>his active engagement in the situation which leads me to doubt his  
>more sterling motivations, although there's room for that  possibility.
 
Nikkalmati:

I am sure this has been stated before, but here goes.  I doubt  that Fudge 
could have been moved from his position by Snape.  In any case,  at this point, 
Snape thinks Sirius is a murderer (Muggles), a traitor (James and  Lily), an 
attempted murderer (Harry and himself) and an escaped convict.   In all 
probability, Sirius was an "outlaw", that is, literally 
beyond the law in the Shrieking Shack, and Snape could have killed Sirius  
without any consequences to himself at that time.  Yes, I'm sure Snape  wants 
Fudge to execute Sirius.  However, I think, as I thought when I first  read it, 
he is trying to protect the students in his comments to Fudge "They  weren't 
responsible for their actions."  (POA paperback 386).    They were open to 
being charged not only with attacking Snape but with aiding  and abetting an 
escaped killer.  From what we have seen of due process in  the WW (or lack thereof, 
see Sirius and Stan Shunpike ) expulsion would  have been the least of their 
problems.  However, if they were Confunded,  they were not responsible. Fudge 
buys it. 
 
 Yes, Snape goes on to list Harry's peccadilloes and special  treatment, but 
he is venting here; Fudge can't suspend Harry and Snape knows it.  He has what 
he thinks at first is a sympathetic ear and is making the most of  it.  And 
he has personal issues with Sirius that he hopes will be settled  by Sirius' 
death.  I am not necessarily proposing any but practical motives  for Snape, so 
don't accuse me of painting a NobleSnape.  After all, he  wants LV out of the 
way and if Harry is the "chosen one", Harry can't do much  from Azkaban.
 
Nikkalmati