Reason Dumbledore trusted Snape

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 171705

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> 
wrote:
> He's too savvy *now*. How savvy was he when he joined the DE's? Not
> so much, I should say.
> 
> But self-hatred is an insidious enemy, as fond of disguises as Snape
> himself. You realize, don't you, that part of Snape's problem with
> the Marauders was that part of him felt he *deserved* to be picked
> on? He bought in to their characterization of him as inferior, or 
at least
> he was afraid it was true and needed to prove to himself that it 
wasn't.
> 
> Being accepted by the DE's would prove to Snape that he was as 
> good as any pureblood. But if the Dark Lord decided to go after
> baby Harry as the greater threat despite the fact that Neville's
> blood was purer, then Voldemort's validation of Snape would
> become meaningless, and that, I should say, led Snape to 
> re-examine everything he'd been taught to believe.
> Does that make sense?
> 

va32h:

I suppose it makes sense if one agrees with your assessment of Snape, 
but I don't. 

Snape struggles with self-loathing *now*, as a result of something he 
did as a DE, but I disagree that he felt inferior to the Marauders, 
or deserved to be picked on, even on a subconscious level. 

Quite the opposite. I think Snape developed a sense of superiority 
early on. I think Snape was grew up within the Prince family - that 
the hook nosed man in Snape's memories was his grandfather, not his 
father. Grandfather Prince was appalled at his daughter's choice of a 
Muggle husband. For whatever reason, Tobias Snape left the scene, and 
Eileen returned to her family with her small son, who was derided and 
tormented for his half-blood status, maybe even sarcastically 
referred to as "the half-blood Prince", which he is why he found such 
delight in writing that name on the textbook which demonstrated his 
magical brilliance. 

The Princes may have assumed that half-blood Severus would be lacking 
in magical ability - but he wasn't. Which is something he surely 
realized early on. Even if we allow for some exaggeration on Sirius' 
part, Snape arrived at Hogwarts knowing plenty of magic. And he was 
sorted into Slytherin, which would have been a bit of vindication for 
Snape, and a slap upside the head to those who thought only 
purebloods were worthy to study magic. A half blood permitted into 
Slytherin's house must be worthy, indeed. 

And at Hogwarts - he was, as the Potions book shows - absolutely 
brilliant. Improving on published potions recipes, inventing complex, 
nonverbal spells and their counter spells. 

I think Snape was an internal, cerebral kid - who enjoyed learning 
magic for the sake of learning. And the Marauders were - well, they 
were a band of hooligans. Handsome, charming, hooligans who wasted 
their tremendous magical talent on pulling pranks. 

I think that's what disgusted Snape - here he was, derided for his 
half-blood status, and yet possessing tremendous magical ability and 
control, as well as inventiveness and an intrinisic love of magic. 
And there were pureblood poster boys Sirius and James, gifted enough 
to become Animagi at an amazingly young age, but reckless and foolish 
enough to use that skill to...goof off! To roam around after hours 
and play tricks on their fellow students. 

I am not certain why Snape joined the Death Eaters, but I don't think 
it was to prove himself as good as any pureblood. He already knew he 
was not just as good, but better. Perhaps he recognized Voldemort as 
being someone just like him - a highly talented wizard with a thirst 
for magical knowledge, welcomed to Slytherin house despite having a 
Muggle father. Voldemort may have even used that logic in recruiting 
him. Come on, Severus, you and I will tell these pureblood bigots 
that it's all about getting rid of the Mudbloods, but once we're in 
charge, we'll show them what fools they really are.   

In fact, I think that *is* how Voldemort brought Snape into the fold, 
and that at some point Snape realized that he'd been duped, that 
Voldemort tells every Death Eater a different story, designed to 
appeal to that person's circumstances, desires, and beliefs (which is 
why he tells Harry that wearing one's heart on one's sleeve is a huge 
mistake. 

Actually, I think that's why Snape turned spy for the Order. Angry at 
Voldemort for fooling him (and angry at himself for being fooled) 
Snape undertakes the ultimate revenge by tricking the one who tricked 
him. 

Well this went on longer than I expected, sometimes I just get on a 
roll! 

va32h, who could go on for another three or four paragraphs on how 
Regulus and the Potters fit into this, but won't.