Snape, Pettigrew and life debts (Re: The Continuing Tragedy of Severus...)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 165422

Jen:  (Bringing an old thread back because I meant to post and didn't 
get around to it.)  I'm interested to see if JKR does more 
comparison/contrast with Snape and Pettigrew in DH, her two 
characters with a foot in both worlds.  In particular I could see her 
contrasting the two as a way for Harry to learn more about Snape 
because in Harry's eyes at the moment, both betrayed his parents 
equally and both went on to serve Voldemort.  

How the two deal/dealt with their respective life debts might shed 
some light, especially if Snape risked his life to save the Potters 
to make up for his actions and Harry contrasts that with PP, who not 
only betrayed supposedly close friends but actively helped LV kill 
Harry in spite of the debt.  I'm growing to like the life debt being 
the reason for Snape's *initial* decision to turn to Dumbledore 
rather than his love or affection for Lily.  The one reason Lily 
never quite fits for me is this type of attachment has never been 
part of Snape's character.  Being motivated by duty, rules, what he 
considers right--yes.  Motivated by love or friendship--not yet.  In 
fact, that's been one of the major ways JKR has contrasted him with 
the Marauders and the Trio so far: depicting him as a loner, a man 
who keeps to himself, someone practically immune to what others think 
about him, etc.

The debt would still only be an origination point for Snape's turn 
rather than the whole story in my opinion, the match lighting the 
flame.  Hearing the Potters were being targeted would have been a 
jolt to him, realizing he was violating the 'rules' of the life debt, 
then taking that a little futher to consider the path he was on and 
whether he wanted to follow Voldemort.  Maybe like Regulus that 
moment was when he realized 'how far Voldemort was willing to go' and 
realized he wanted out.  The change of heart and remorse would follow 
for a truly loyal Snape, as opposed to one only interested in 
fulfilling his life debt.


Jen R.