Snape at Spinner's End. Was: Snape-favorite moments

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 169308

zgirnius:

Huh. This is *the* chapter for me, too. (Which, alas, means it is
falling out of my poor beat-up copy of HBP...) I recognized in GoF
and OotP that the issue of Snape's loyalties was being set up as an
official mystery in the series, and thought it sort of unfortunate
that I would never get to see the stuff that would help me decide for
myself what I think about it (namely, Snape the spy in action, since
how would Harry ever be around for that?!). I was, to say the least,
pleasantly surprised when the door Narcissa knocked on turned out to
be Snape's! And totally convinced that he's a 'good guy' by the
chapter.

But I see the chapter rather differently from you. He seems
effortless and at ease, but somehow I did not get the impression that
it *was* easy, or he was really in control. 

Leslie41:

It *seems* effortless, just like Fred Astaire dancing.  But obviously 
Snape had to be on his toes here (pardon the pun!).  He was in a 
situation where he had three different threats from three different 
people, and he had to deal with them all.  

1) Wormtail is making every effort to spy on him, and put himself in 
the middle of the action.  That will *not* do.  

2) Narcissa is obviously upset and wants something from him, or why 
would she be there?

3) Bellatrix loathes and is jealous of him, and does not trust him at 
all.

Making it all seem effortless is part of the reason why he really 
shines here.  

zgirnius:

In particular, it seems to me that Narcissa, despite her show of 
weakness and those teary baby-blues, walked away with exactly what 
she wanted. I am not convinced it was exactly what Snape planned. 

Leslie41:

When the book first came out, I would have tended to agree with you, 
and I thought Snape was merely responding as deftly as he could to 
the situation as it unfolded.

I don't think that now.  I think that Snape knew all along what 
the "plan" was, and knew what Narcissa wanted from the moment she 
showed up at his door, looking like "a drowned person".  Why else 
would she come to his "dunghill" of a home, unless it was a matter of 
direst importance?  Unless she had something crucial to ask of him?  

Doubtless he suspected that Narcissa would show up, and the plan for 
what to do in that case was already in his head.

Why do I think that?  For many reasons.  Firstly, you notice that 
from the beginning the only person he really is adamant about keeping 
away from the discussion is Wormtail.  Wormtail must get them drinks 
and return to his bedroom.  Snape knows Wormtail will report to 
Voldemort.

He then, in explicit detail, counters every single one of Bellatrix' 
assumptions about him; every reason that she might have to criticize, 
he counters.  And does so while making her seem stupid and ill-
informed.  

He tells Narcissa not to speak of her problem because "the Dark Lord 
has forbidden it".  Then, after looking through the window to see if 
anyone is spying on them, he tells her he knows of it already. Why 
would he even try to keep her from speaking it if he really didn't 
know?  He's already spent a long while countering Bella's 
insinuations.  He could say something like:  "I understand 
completely, Narcissa, that you don't feel you can tell me, but you 
will understand if you don't that I cannot help you."  Then all he 
would need to do is smile, and wait.                   

But he himself *offers* to help Draco.  Narcissa doesn't ask.  Then, 
when she does request the unbreakable vow, Snape's voice is "blank, 
unreadable."  

Now, if Snape is truly in league with Voldemort, why would he try to 
hide his emotions?  Why would he not be at least a bit gleeful at the 
prospect of killing Dumbledore? "It would be my greatest pleasure..." 
he might say. But he's veiling his emotions. Though he and Dumbledore 
doubtless suspected Narcissa might ask for his help, now she HAS.  
Now he must COMMIT FULLY to the action.  It's a hard moment for him.  
The worst case scenario has materialized.  But he keeps his cool.  

As to the issue of why Dumbledore would insist that Snape commit to 
killing him, that's a hotly discussed question.  Mostly because 
Dumbledore is extremely old (even for a wizard--check some of the 
timelines), is near to death anyway, and dying in this manner will 
help the cause against Voldemort and keep Draco from being a 
murderer.  Good reasons, both, though Snape certainly doesn't want to 
do it.

zgirnius:

The ominous imagery at the end of the chapter gave me the unpleasant 
feeling that a mistake had been made.

Leslie41:

Not a mistake. An extremely difficult commitment to a necessary 
course of action.    

zgirnius:

I suppose it (the mistake) could be Dumbledore's, and Snape was just 
carrying out a plan, but, especially in light of Snape's reactions at 
the very end after he has killed Dumbledore, I don't think so.

Leslie41:

Oh, I *do*...and it's all the more reason to admire him in this 
situation.