The Continuing Tragedy of Severus Snape: Reflections on Books 1-5

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 164489

Cassy writes:

> PS/SS:
> Question: might it have been different if Harry *had* known the
> answers to those Potions questions: reminding Snape forcibly of Lily
> instead of James?

va32h here:
How would it have been different if Snape had chosen not to single 
Harry out for abuse? Harry was merely taking notes in class, not 
ignoring Snape, something Snape had to know. But Snape also knew who 
Harry was and immediately began goading him. 

I agree that Snape was probably pursuing Quirrell of his own 
volition, as he was, in the first three books, eager to receive 
recognition. 

Cassy here:
 
> COS:
> Snape has his revenge by 'outing' Harry as a Parseltongue and
> potential Heir of Slytherin. In the end, this leads Harry to risk 
his
> life (again) in the Chamber of Secrets and to defeat Riddle (&
> Lockhart, which is a relief all round). But Snape must be worrying
> about Harry dying before he can discharge that life-debt...
> 
> Question: does Snape suspect that Harry's scar is a Horcrux?

va32h here:

Does Snape even know that there are horcruxes? How would he have 
known before the duel that Harry was a Parseltongue?

Cassy here:

> POA:
> Well, the result of Snape *totally* losing it in the Shrieking Shack
> (Lily-died-despite-my-warning -because-James-trusted-you-Sirius!) is
> that the real culprit, Wormtail, escaped... to rejoin Voldemort.
> Sirius Black is (still) the Most Wanted, Remus Lupin is a disgraced
> werewolf and Fudge thinks that Dumbledore employs deranged staff. 
Nice
> one, Severus... still it's good to know you're (supposed to be) on 
our
> side! 
> 
> Question: did Lupin really think that Snape gave a **** about the
> Order of Merlin?

va32h here:

Oh I think Snape very much wanted that Order of Merlin. For the same 
reason he pursued Quirrell. His greatest achievment to date has been 
being a succesful spy - the very nature of this achievment is such 
that he will never get any public recognition for it. But here is a 
chance to be heroic *and* have it acknowledged. 

In the pre-return-of-Voldemort era, I think Snape believes he can put 
that whole DE/life debt/double agent business behind him. He's still 
acting like he has a future.

Cassy here:
> GOF:
> This is the one I find *really* tragic. Moody-Crouch made one 
crucial
> mistake that should have been enough to unmask him as a Death Eater.
> Namely, his (completely false) claim that Dumbledore had authorized
> him to search Snape's Office, which betrayed a fundamental
> misunderstanding of Dumbledore's character. Snape was appalled and
> furious – 'Dumbledore happens to trust me' (GOF25) – brave words: 
but
> did he really believe it? Evidently not. 

va32h here:

That's an interesting observation. I hadn't thought of Snape's 
feelings being hurt at that point. But it would have been as much in 
character for real Moody to search everyone's office and lie about 
it, wouldn't it? 

I do think GoF is the tragic turning point for Snape (among others) 
because Snape now realizes he must give up any pretense of an 
ordinary life. He will have to go back to playing spy again, and this 
time he knows exactly what the cost will be. 

I don't know where Snape was at the third task, but I don't find it 
particularly telling that Harry doesn't know. Harry wouldn't be 
looking for Snape at that point. 

Cassy here:
> OOtP:
> Now Snape's finally in a position to risk his neck spying for the
> Order... but his penchant for emotional mistakes continues (making 
> him a steaming hypocrite, of course!). I'm not just  referring tothe
> Occlumency 'fiasco' – but to the stupid taunting of Sirius Black,
> (which probably *did* make some contribution to the tragedy – Harry
> knew his godfather pretty well, IMHO). This means that Snape's most
> significant role – as the one who tried to persuade Sirius *not* to 
>go to the Ministry on the fatal day – is completely overlooked by 
>Harry Potter. 

va32h here:

So it's a tragedy for Snape that his heroic effort to persuade Sirius 
not to go to the ministry has gone unnoticed? Hmmm. Not sure I 
understand that. I'm not sure that was Snape's most significant role 
either. 


Cassy:
> Question: does Snape *want* Harry to hate him? (Answer: probably 
yes,actually, if he blames himself for the Potters' deaths.)

va32h here:
Probably yes because the idea of a grown man hating a little boy for 
no plausible reason is odious, even to Snape. He wants Harry to hate 
him so he will feel less guilty about hating a child who has done 
nothing to him. 

va32h, who does find Snape tragic, but not sympathetic