[HPforGrownups] Snape's dirty past uncovered WAS: Re: Werewolves and RL equivalents

[k12listmomma]

No: HPFGUIDX 170509

> > > I mean, you mention earlier that he outs himself to Fudge. Did he
> > > though?
> > >
> > > I was under impression that Fudge was perfectly aware of Snape being
> > > former DE, just did not know about Dark Mark or did I always read that
> > > scene wrong?
> >
> > Magpie:
> > You are right, Fudge already knew--he revealed that his Dark Mark
> > was getting darker so that he was still tied to LV as a former DE.
> > But my point is that Snape has an identity now as a former DE who's
> > now a spy. Hiding that he was once a DE doesn't seem like something
> > he spends much time doing. On the contrary he is (if he's DDM) still
> > pretending to be a DE. Snape's got his own issues with his past that
> > I think are one of his prime motivations. I just don't think they're
> > the same as Lupin's with his werewolfism. Presumably the Slytherins
> > all already know Snape is a former (and then current) DE.
>
> Carol:
> I'm not so sure that Fudge already knew. The horror and shock on his
> face indicate otherwise.


About Fudge- I think the horror and shock on his face was that a Dark Mark
was being shoved in his face- a dark mark that clearly contridicts what he
is going to tell the world anyway. He knows- it was "right there", and
undoubtedly, clear and easy to read- but still to have to SEE it that close
means he knows he will have to lie all that much more in his pretending:
"nothing is wrong- citizens- go about your lives in peace".  I think he's
shocked because he would have much rather have just been told about it so he
had some measure of plausibile denyability- some room to say he "doubted the
truth of the story"- but if his memory is ever probed into, there is no
denying seeing it for himself- no doubt on anyone's part that he saw the
proof first hand. He might have even been a little scared of Snape,
wondering if he might still be a current DE if the mark was that bright and
clear. He might have feared that Snape would have to kill Fudge just for
having shown him the mark itself. I don't think Fudge would have known if
merely having the dark mark itself made a person dangerous- if LV could
control his DEs using that mark, so that Snape himself became a threat at
that very moment.

I think Fudge had to have known about Snape being a former DE- Snape would
have had to have made a deal to stay out of Azakaban- but whether it was
with the Ministry of Magic or just Dumbledore is a mystery to me. Either
way, I think the current Minister of Magic would have been informed so that
they didn't persue Snape for any crimes which they could have put him away
for. I just don't think Fudge realized at all that a former DE would still
have that mark permently on his skin, many years later. After all, how many
old DEs are flashing dark marks in his face? It wasn't an event that
happened every day, for sure!

Shelley