[HPforGrownups] Re: Reason Dumbledore trusted Snape

[Maeg]

No: HPFGUIDX 171899

On Jul 13, 2007, at 7:52 PM, va32h wrote:

> va32h:
> 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.

Maeg writes: Interesting theory, and the recruiting technique  
certainly fits with Voldemort's amorality.

I've always harbored a suspicion (fantasy?) that Voldemort seduced  
Snape by offering him revenge for his father's ill-treatment of him  
and his mother. This supposes that we saw Snape and his mother and  
father in the pensieve in HPB; recent discussion suggests other  
possibilities, but I'll stick with the most obvious explanation  
(Occam's Razor, and all that).

Let's suggest that this memory was but one in a long childhood of  
abuse and neglect by his father. He hates his father for this, but is  
unable to stand up to him (hence the cowering child) to protect  
himself or his mother. This pattern continues through adulthood, so  
even when Snape has the ability to stop his father (Tobias), he can't  
do the deed. Voldemort uses that against Snape, offering to kill his  
father for him.

Snape eventually agrees, turning to the "dark side". Is it just  
Voldemort's persuasive powers, or does something happen to make Snape  
agree? His mother's death, perhaps? I would think that Voldemort  
doesn't kill Snape's father immediately; he's the kind to hold onto  
this kind of power for as long as possible. So maybe Snape is a death  
eater for a while before Voldemort acts. I envision a horrific scene  
where Voldemort captures, tortures and kills Tobias as Severus watches.

This is the point where Severus turns from the "dark side". He gets  
his fondest wish, revenge for all the pain and suffering inflicted by  
one who should love him, and he finally sees it for the truly screwed  
up thing that revenge is. I see Snape as honest and uncompromising in  
recognizing his own mistake; but in typically Snape fashion, he  
doesn't immediately lash out at Voldemort. (After all, some part of  
him is pleased at daddy's demise.) He puts his brain to work & comes  
up with a plan to make himself look good (playing the hero spy for  
the Order) and to get him out of the mess (becoming a Death Eater).

This also squares with the idea that, until Dumbledore, Snape has  
never killed anyone. Despite being a venemous old git with  
questionable morals and abusive tendencies, I don't believe we know  
that Snape's ever committed that ultimate sin before the Tower at the  
end of HPB. (And a lot of people seem to think that's open for  
debate, too.)

Of course, this doesn't jibe with what's been said about Snape's  
motivations; that he only began to spy for the Order after realizing  
that Voldemort acted upon the prophecy he (Snape) overheard by  
killing the Potters and attempting to kill baby Harry. But that  
explanation never worked for me; at least, it doesn't yet. We'll see  
after book 7.

Maeg

My mind isn't always in the gutter -- sometimes it comes out to feed.