[HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: 15, The Goblin's Revenge

[Jerri/Dan Chase]

No: HPFGUIDX 181855

>8. Did you, at Phineas Nigellus Black's revelation that
>Snape "punished" Ginny, Neville and Luna by sending them
>on a field trip with Hagrid, marvel at Harry still not
>grasping Snape's possible (probable? obvious?) loyalty
>towards Dumbledore's cause??? Why or why not?

Well, I didn't expect Harry to figure out any potential good aspects 
of Snape until confronted with something like the memory dump to come 
near the end of the book.  However, this was the moment when I felt 
that I knew for the first time where Snape's true loyalties were.  Up 
till that disclosure I could never make up my mind.  There were so 
many good arguments for both the "evil Snape" and the "Dumbledore's 
Man Snape" theories, I could never decide between them.  But when I 
read about the punishment of Ginny, Neville and Luna by sending them 
into the forbidden forest with Hagrid I KNEW.  For one thing, it 
showed that Hagrid was still at Hogwarts, as game keeper at least and 
possibly as teacher.  Snape hadn't gotten rid of such a loyal 
Dumbledore supporter as Hagrid when he became headmaster under a Lord 
V. controlled ministry, and this form of punishment was the perfect 
method for Snape the double agent but loyal to Dumbledore and his 
plans.  Apparently nasty and dangerous enough to satisfy the death 
eaters without doing any lasting harm with Hagrid and Fang to watch 
over them.

Jerri