Clues to Snape's Loyalties

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 170890

> >Magpie wrote:
> So Dumbledore's a complete idiot and Voldemort has a better
> understanding of human nature? I don't think so. It's not so easy 
to
> fool Dumbledore. It can be done, of course, but so can fooling
> Voldemort.
> 
> vmonte:
> Lol, that's not what I said. Voldemort is not a trusting man like 
> Dumbledore. It's harder to trick someone who trusts no one, right?

Magpie:

Not necessarily, no. I don't think so. Tricking someone doesn't have 
to rely on that person trusting you. You can trick a person by 
relying on other aspects of their personality--greed, vanity, fear. 
I'd guess that of the two it would be easier to trick Voldemort 
because of the idea that evil lacks imagination. But I wouldn't 
really say Dumbledore is always trusting either. He has no 
confidantes and often keeps important information to himself. He 
never trusted Tom Riddle where others have.

> vmonte: He could not refuse the vow because Bella was ready to 
kill 
> him if he did not. 

Magpie:
Bellatrix wasn't ready to kill him that we saw, and if she tried 
Snape was probably just as ready to defend himself. Where is there a 
moment where Snape's shown being forced to take the Vow because 
otherwise he will die? I think that would change the story quite a 
bit, thematically. I think Snape's really making a Vow of his own 
free choice.

vmonte:
I think Snape had no clue as to what Draco was 
> supposed to do. You really think that Voldemort told Snape of his 
> plans for Draco? Don't you think Snape would have been more 
involved 
> with Draco's plans at school if he was so trusted by Voldemort? 

Magpie:
However Snape knew (he says Voldemort told him, but we didn't see 
it), yes, I think Snape knew what Draco was supposed to do. So did 
Dumbledore. Why would Snape knowing that Draco is supposed to kill 
Dumbledore mean that Snape would be more involved with Draco's plans 
at school? It's Draco that keeps him out of his plans personally. 
Snape isn't part of Lord Voldemort's plans there that we know of. 
Even if Snape didn't know the task in Spinner's End, which I think 
he did (and it would be even more silly of him to take the Vow if he 
didn't know what he was supposed to do), he surely would have to 
find out quickly enough once he was at school. Dumbledore knows the 
truth behind all of Draco's actions and Snape reacts to them as if 
he does too.

vmonte:

Here is the problem I have with the idea that Snape is not a person
that's full of malice. If JKR had described Snape as being a big
teddy bear I would assume that JKR meant that he was cute and
snuggly.

When a writer (correct me if I'm wrong) writes that a person is
spider-like and bat-like, the images I should get are of someone that
has similar characteristics.

Magpie:
But Snape can look and move like those creatures without working for 
Voldemort. Whether or not bats or spiders are malicious, Snape's 
personality has been shown to be so--that is, we see him being 
vicious to people, we even know he was a Death Eater, we know he 
invented a deadly spell. That just doesn't mean he must be working 
for LV. Barty Crouch was quite nice to Harry and Peter's a 
sychophant, but they both work for LV.

-m (thinking it's interesting how JKR's personal favorite animals 
are mustelidae, some of whom have negative connotations, yet isn't 
always sure which way we're meant to take all the mustelidae imagery 
in the books.)