A Dark Glamour - Voldemort's Appeal

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 179029

> a_svirn:
> I would agree on the whole, except that it's not immediately clear 
> what sort of protection Voldemort had to offer if any. I didn't 
get 
> it from canon that Voldemort "offered protection to his subjects". 
> Besides, protection from what? If Snape had joined Voldemort when 
it 
> looked like he (Voldemort) was likely to win (as, say, Pettigrew 
did) 
> then it would have been the case of "seeking protection". But it 
> seems that Snape joined the club while still at school (though he 
> probably received the mark only after his graduation).

lizzyben:

You're right that Voldemort's actual protection was uncertain at 
best, 
but from a teen's POV, I think it would look differently. For Snape, 
the DE's seemed powerful, respected, feared. They'd be the coolest 
baddest gang on the block. Pre-DH, it seemed like Snape might have 
joined up to get protection from the Mauraders. That might still be 
the case, but now I'd say it was more protection from the world in 
general. IMO joining this group would give Snape a sense of 
protection & safety; in the sense that being part of any group 
protects one individual. It's the protection that most people find 
in a family or circle of friends. Lacking that, people (especially 
young men) can turn to gangs instead. I don't think that it's the 
*main* reason, but it's an important one, & the best fit of the 
three categories Mike mentioned. 


lizzyben