Dark Magic and Snape (was:Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 161397

Jen wrote:  Here's my take on the three main paths to Voldemort, the
way I glean JKR's presentation of characters who are his followers:
> 
> 1)  Wizards like Lucius who place the pure blood issue above all 
> else, who think Voldemort's goal is to rid the WW of muggleborns.
> 2)  Those who are coopted into service out of fear like Peter.
> 3)  Those who have immersed themselves in the study of the Dark Arts 
> and view Voldemort as a path to magical knowledge.  My assumption is 
> Snape fits here.
> 
> Not all DE's in his service are 'seduced' by the Dark Arts in the 
> sense they hold this discipline above all else.  All may use dark 
> spells to do his bidding and even someone like Peter has to learn 
> how to AK. And others don't fall into these categories, they have 
> personal reasons to be a DE much like Crouch Jr. who probably 
> initially wanted to get back at his father and only later became a 
> fantatic.  His hook was a substitute father rather than pure blood 
> ideals or interest in dark magic.
> 
> Voldemort recruits in the same way he recruited Draco: he finds the 
> one thing a person can be lured by and uses it to his advantage.  In 
> the case of Draco, glory for himself and his family by following in 
> the footsteps of his father was probably the initial hook. 
> 
> Snape, who values intellect & and study, including the study of dark 
> arts, was probably recuited in a similar way--'let me show you all I 
> know, you will be a Master one day of the Dark Arts, above all 
> others with no equal.'  Snape aleady has the anger, but he also has 
> a growing belief the Dark Arts are the path to something more than 
> what he's accomplished in his regular studies at Hogwarts, something 
> that will give him not only intellectual glory but power over his 
> enemies.  Thus he's seduced by the siren call of the Dark Arts as 
> the end and Voldemort as the means.

Carol responds:

I agree that the DEs have varying motivations, but I'm not sure we
have any clear evidence that Voldemort actively recruits followers.
(Even Draco may have expressed a desire to join before he was given
his much-discussed assignment.) I think that people with friends and
relatives among the DEs tend to join him without his actively having
to seek them out. For example, I think that Regulus Black would have
joined via his cousin, Bellatrix (doesn't his brother Sirius say that
their parents regarded him at first as "a right little hero" for
joining up?). 

I agree that Severus Snape was motivated primarily by intellectual
concerns, but I think he was looking for recognition and acceptance
more than power. IMO, he either approached Lucius Malfoy or was
approached by him ("The Dark Lord will reward your talents, Severus,
and provide you with the recognition you deserve"). I don't think that
Voldemort knew about him unless Malfoy informed him that he had a
young friend with prodigious talents who should be recruited before he
began working for the other side.

As for Barty Jr., certainly he was rebelling against his father, but,
like Regulus, he was a Pureblood. Possibly, he originally thought that
his father was a Blood Traitor for fighting Voldemort. And since he
was a talented boy (twelve OWLs), he may also have wanted recognition
for his talents from someone other than the Ministry (which he would
naturally associate with his father). I'm not sure, but I think he may
have fallen under the spell of a certain beautiful older woman and
become her follower, much as the Lestrange brothers had done before
him. Just my view, not anything I can prove.

Carol, who pronounces "Lestrange" with a long a, not as "Lestrawnge"
(the brothers may have a French or Norman ancestor, but they're English)