Clues to Snape's Loyalties

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No: HPFGUIDX 170862

Here is what I think about Snape:


In my opinion Severus Snape is a bad man. Many say that now he is
not bad, but is a double agent. The interesting thing about double
agents is that you never really know whose side they are truly on;
or even more importantly if they are on any one side at all,
preferring to use what they can from both sides until ultimately
both sides cancel each other out leaving the double-double-crosser
as the true victor.

Throughout the novel Snape is repeatedly described as having bat-
like and spider-like qualities. Bats are bloodsuckers, and arachnids
spin webs to entrap their prey, once caught they are sucked dry of
their innards until only a husk remains. These are the perfect
descriptions for a man who has laid out webs of deceit all around
him and uses those that he ensnares to achieve his goals.


Snape can easily lie to the entire Order of the Phoenix. He only had
to fool one member. With Dumbledore backing him, the other members
blindly accepted Snape and everything he did without question,
wrongfully assuming that their all-knowing leader knew best. I think
that this is why J. K. Rowling makes a point for Dumbledore to
inform Harry that he makes mistakes. To banish the notion that he is
somehow more than just a man.

Fooling Dumbledore could have been as easy as tugging on his
heartstrings – The Dark Lord, however, is another matter.

"The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is
lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down
those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so utter
falsehoods in his presence without detection." (Order of the
Phoenix; Occlumency, p531)

During this conversation with Harry, it seems obvious that Snape is
talking about himself. Never one to pass up an opportunity to "toot
his own horn" Snape implies that he has the power to lie to the face
of the Dark Lord. This also applies to Dumbledore; if Snape can
utter falsehoods to Voldemort you could also argue that he can lie
to Dumbledore. Intricate webs wonderfully weaved though they might
have a tendency of coming unraveled.

I think it no mistake that Snape lives at Spinner's End. The imagery
speaks for itself. However, titling the Chapter "Spinner's End"
evokes a dual meaning: The end of the Spinner – The end of the web.
It is in this chapter that Snape makes the Unbreakable Vow with
Narcissa.

"And, should it prove necessary
if it seems Draco will fail
"
whispered Narcissa (Snape's hand twitched within hers, but he did
not draw away), "will you carry out the dead that the Dark Lord has
ordered Draco to perform?" There was a moment's silence. Bellatrix
watched, her wand upon their clasped hands, her eyes wide. "I will,"
said Snape. (Half Blood Prince, Spinner's End, p36-37)

It is at this point that Snape has been forced off his fence, where
he has been happy to sit and watch the world move around him.
Snape's hand twitches and he pauses. His hesitancy shows he
understands that he may regret this decision. But he was backed into
a corner. Showing his intentions to be anything other than for the
Dark Lord and the protection of his own, especially in front of
Bellatrix would certainly have meant his death. I think Phineas
Nigellus puts it best in Order of the Phoenix; "We Slytherin's are
brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will
always choose to save our own necks." (p494-495) This notion fits
Snape to a "T" in two moments, the reason he makes the promise in
the first place, and then when he finally has to kill Dumbledore.

Throughout the novel J. K. Rowling makes certain to let you know
that Snape has no idea what Draco's task is. I am certain that he
did not expect the murder of Dumbledore to be a task that the Dark
Lord would have given a child. When it becomes clear that Draco is
too much of a child still to make up his mind to commit murder,
Snape would rather kill than die himself. It could seem that there
is a possibility that Snape was still working with Dumbledore and
his death was planned. However, when we hear Slughorn's description
of how one makes a horcrux it seems clear that this cannot be.

By an act of evil – the supreme act of evil. By committing murder.
Killing rips the soul apart. The wizard intent upon creating a
Horcrux would use the damage to his advantage: He would encase the
torn portion
 (Half Blood Prince, Horcruxes, p498)

To intentionally kill someone causes so much damage to your soul
that it tears apart. It would not be in Dumbledore's character to
ask this of Snape. Dumbledore's been trying to keep Snape away from
the Defense Against the Dark Arts position for years because of his
fear that it would tempt Snape back to the dark side. It doesn't
seem very likely that Dumbledore would risk Snape's mortal soul. He
trusted and protected a man who kills him in cold blood.

"Severus
"
The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all
evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and
hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
"Severus
please
"
Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. (Half
Blood Prince, The Lightning Struck Tower, p595-596)

The sound of his hero and protector pleading is even more
frightening to Harry than facing an army of bewitched corpse-
puppets. None of this moves Snape in the slightest. No longer able
to ride the fence, Snape makes the ultimate decision to ally himself
with the seemingly stronger faction. A faction not led by wounded
old men. He goes on to toy with and torment Harry as he runs for
freedom. Mocking Harry's father as he deflects spell after spell. He
shows that even after killing a weak and beaten Dumbledore that he
can be as cruel as ever.

If this were true then why would he save Harry's life over the
course of all the books (i.e. while being jinxed by Quirrell), or
more recently during his flee from the school? Was it because he is
so loyal to the Dark Lord that he would ensure the boy's survival
just so Voldemort could kill him? Or is it because of something more?

We know that Harry is a powerful wizard untrained though he might
be. There is also no doubt that many in the book see this as
something he was born with. This may be true, however, what if his
strength came from the events that happened at Godric's Hollow? We
know that Harry did not die because his mother sacrificed herself to
protect him – a protection that lives in his blood and his skin
still. We also know that Harry has some of the Dark Lord in him,
something that was transferred into him when Voldemort's death curse
backfired. Voldemort had just committed the act of murder when he
attempted to kill Harry. This means that a part of his soul was
torn, as Slughorn described. What if because of Lily's sacrifice
this torn portion of Voldemort's soul was transferred into Harry?

This would make Harry a Horcrux.

We know after this last book that a Horcrux does not have to be
confined to an object.

"The Snake?" said Harry, startled. "You can use animals as
Horcruxes?" "Well, it is inadvisable to do so," said
Dumbledore, "because to confide a part of your soul to something
that can think and move for itself is obviously a very risky
business." (p506)

If it is inadvisable could this mean that the soul piece inside a
living being can influence its container and be influenced? Couldn't
the explanation of why Harry has some of Voldemort's abilities and
strengths be because he is being influenced by the soul-shard that
is inside him, just like the soul-shard of Tom Riddle in the diary
influenced Ginny. The only thing that protects Harry from being
consumed is the love and protection that runs in his veins.

I believe that Snape sees that this is true, and quite possibly has
always suspected that a part of the Dark Lord resides behind Harry's
scar. In The Chamber of Secrets Snape tests his theory. He whispers
the Serpensortia spell to Draco. When Harry responds to the snake in
Parseltongue Snape has the proof. He looks "at Harry in an
unexpected way: it was a shrewd and calculating look, and Harry
didn't like it." (The Dueling Club, p193-194) It seems clear that
Snape has a plan for the power inside Harry, and knows and
understands more about Harry's gifts than he is willing to let on to
anyone. Up to this point Snape's motivations have been fueled by a
want to be powerful, respected and feared. The way he treats the
children of the school are a clear example.

J. K. Rowling has said in an interview that Snape in a way is even
more culpable for his actions than Voldemort because Snape was
loved. She has also eluded in an interview that Snape may redeem
himself in book 7. How can a man who is both culpable and possibly
redeemable be innocent? Up to this point he is an evil manipulative
horrid man who preys on innocent children and weaves a web of deceit
and death where ever he goes.

Harry Potter is a Horcrux and Snape is evil.

This was originally posted in August 2005:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/138754