| Professor Severus Snape |
| Professor Severus Snape is a character in the Harry Potter book series. He serves as the Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and happens to be Harry's least favorite teacher. Throughout the series, Snape displays evident loathing of Harry, which is eventually discovered to originate with Harry's father, James. James and Snape attended Hogwarts together, sharing mutual enmity. In the first book, it is very easy to distrust and dislike Snape as he is quite diagreeable and snappish, not to mention that it is apparent that he wants to steal the Sorcerer's Stone for Lord Voldemort. Harry and his friends, in attempting to thwart him, discover that it was quite a different person who was the real enemy, and that Snape had saved Harry's life. So, dispite Snape's unpleasant demeanor, he is obviously one of the good guys. |
| In the third book, it is revealed that Sirius Black, James's best friend, played a "trick" on Snape that almost cost Snape his life. Snape had been curious as to where James, Sirius, and thier friend Remus Lupin disappeared every month, and Sirius hinted that Snape might discover the answer if he went to a certain secret passage beneath the Whomping Willow on the grounds. What Snape discovered was that Lupin had transformed into a fully fledged werewolf, and he was only saved from being mauled when James rescued him at the last second. Snape was convinced that all three boys had been in on the "prank," and hated them all the more for it. To top it off, the Headmaster forbade Snape from his newfound knowledge and the "prank" was swept under the carpet without any punishment for the mischief makers. Also in the third book, Snape attempts to save Harry and his friends from Sirius Black, believing him to be a mass murderer. Granted, Snape relishes the chance to capture his old enemy and would likely have killed Sirius and not Harry and his friends stunned Snape. Still, the point is that Snape once again tried to save Harry from his own impetuousness. |
| In the fourth book, Snape is revealed to have been a Death Eater, or a follower of Lord Voldemort. Though the details are not clear, Snape's loyalty apparently left Voldemort before his downfall, and Snape became a spy for Albus Dumbledore. It was probably Snape who informed Dumbledore that the Potters were marked for death, thus allowing them to go into hiding for a time, before Voldemort attempted to kill them. Also, Snape unflinchingly returns to Voldemort's circle at the request of Dumbledore, even though earlier we read that Voldemort believed Snape to be a traitor and planned on killing him. |
| In the fifth book, Snape is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and has returned to spy on Voldemort, pretending to be loyal to him once more. Apparently he was able to convince Voldemort of his continued fealty to the cause of the Dark Lord. Dispite his dislike for Harry, Snape agrees to teach him Occlumency, in an attempt to guard Harry's mind from Voldemort's manipulation. At the beginning of each lesson, Snape had removed certain memories from his head, placing them inside Dumbledore's pensive, so that Harry would not see them if he happened to break into Snape's mind. Harry, left alone with the pensive at one point, recklessly enters one of the memories. He witnesses his father and Sirius Black as teenagers attacking a young Snape without provocation and making sport of him in front of a crowd of onlookers. Harry is horrified to discover that his father was apparently as arrogant and bullying as Snape had always told him. When he goes to Sirius and Remus for explanation, they say (rather lamely) that 15-year-olds are idiots and that James grew out of his bullying. Snape and Sirus Black display continued antagonism, and Harry blames Snape for Sirius's death because Snape had "goaded" Sirius into leaving the safety of Headquarters. He is enraged when Dumbledore even hints that Sirius was impetuous and imperfect. Dispite the fact that Dumbledore should have revealed that Voldemort might make Harry see a false vision, that Harry should have tried to master Occlumency, that Harry didn't listen when it was suggested that his vision of Sirius might be false, that it was to save Harry that Sirius left Headquarters, and that Sirius was killed by Belatrix Lestrange; Harry takes pleasure in blaming Snape, if only to remove some of his own guilt. |
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| Book Six: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince The Case for Snape Ok, so for about three hours after finishing the book, I was in the pits of despair. I was working projection alone at the time, and there was much screaming, a few tears during the funeral, and many recriminations against that horrible JKR!!! I felt hurt, betrayed, etc. I was incredulous that she could have spent so much time building Snape up as a three-dimensional, interesting, engaging character and engendering so much sympathy for him, only to throw it all out the window in one moment. For that’s what it would be; Snape suddenly became a one-dimensionally, flat, all-out villain with no depth at all. Then, while threading a projector, some things occurred to me. I suddenly remembered some of the points outlined below, and as I thought about it, remembered still more. The following theory formed in my mind over the next few hours, calming me greatly, and allowing some new hope to burgeon. Also, I checked out JKR’s site, and saw that she did an interview with the founders of the Leaky Caldron and some other site right after the release. They asked her point blank whether Snape was “evil”; she said something like “Hold out desperate hope!” ******************************************** Though Snape is cruel, petty, sarcastic, dark, forbidding, and unpleasant to practically everyone—-all classic “villain” characteristics-—he has, heretofore, always ended up coming through for the Good side when it counts, saving various characters’ skins at the last second. JKR has painstakingly piled up evidence in favor of Snape’s ultimate loyalty to and protection of Good, of Harry Potter in particular. She’s made it clear that, contrary to appearances, we are expected to understand, grudgingly or otherwise, that Snape is a good guy. How then can we accept so lightly, so readily this apparent reversal on both JKR’s and Snape’s parts in the penultimate Harry Potter tome? It is indicative that the author does not simply spring Snape’s “obvious” betrayal in the murder of Dumbledore upon the reader fully formed. She carefully has Snape present perfectly reasonable explanations in the first chapter for his—-we are sure—-services to the Light, thus casting subtle doubts in our minds well before we are presented with the atrocity of his betrayal. However, for those who have eyes to see and who are sufficiently Slytherin at heart to question the most obvious explanation, JKR has also, just as carefully, laid out hints and doubts in the opposite direction. These hints, enumerated below, will give hope to those who have trusted in Snape’s loyalty to Dumbledore all these years. They will probably send the easy doubters off, scoffing that I’m simply a deluded individual clinging to a slim hope when there really is no doubt about the obvious motives for Snape’s betrayal. The truth is there for those who aren’t simple-minded enough to believe that JKR would throw away such a deliciously morally complex but ultimately good character simply in order to have an expedient way to remove all of Harry Potter’s supports and make him stand on his own two feet for once. Because that’s what she’d be doing: taking a meaty three-dimensional character whom she’s painstakingly proved to be a good guy, and squishing him into the one-dimensional mold of an easy, obvious villain. JKR is not so simple or unsubtle, and we should not do her or this wonderful fictional world the discourtesy of being simple and one-dimensional ourselves. ******************************************* The Facts Are These: -Snape made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy to: -protect Draco from harm -carry out Draco's mission, should he fail -"Snape's hand twitched within hers" as she voiced this last condition **Explanation: Snape might not have known the Plan beforehand. Therefore, in order to cement his position as a spy, he might have consented to the Vow, trying to gain more knowledge about the mission, but without actually knowing what it entailed** **Conclusion: He might not have known the mission was Dumbledore’s death. Because he made the Vow there were only two outcomes left: either Snape would then have to ensure the Headmaster’s death, or die himself due to the nature of an Unbreakable Vow** -Snape is given the DADA job after years of denial from Dumbledore -Dumbledore knows that the job was cursed by Voldemort -Therefore, he knows Snape must leave by the end of the year **Explanation: Dumbledore knew all about the ill-gotten Vow, and they’d probably discovered or deduced the object of Draco’s mission by then -Dumbledore had worked out a plan whereby Snape could continue to teach, observe Draco, and leave the school after fulfilling the Vow -Also, he wanted Slughorn back, which meant that Potions must be free -When Katie Bell touches the cursed necklace, it is SNAPE who “was able [and willing] to do enough to prevent the rapid spread of the curse” because he “knows much more about the Dark Arts than Madam Pomfrey.” -When Draco is caught lurking during Slughorn’s Christmas party, Snape is “both angry...and a little afraid” **Explanation: Draco’s being caught and his intentions perceived would mean breaking the Vow (since the task might not get done at all, or Snape might have to kill Dumbledore prematurely), discovery of the plot by all and sundry, and the end of Dumbledore’s plan** -Snape questions Malfoy about his “plan” -Asks what Draco’s plan is -Draco refuses, thinking Snape wants to steal his glory **Explanation: Snape may already know that Draco plans to kill Dumbledore, or he may not -If he does, he’s trying to find out how Draco will do it -Same, if he doesn’t, trying to find out what the “mission” is -People trusting Snape comes down to trusting Dumbledore’s judgment, according to Lupin -Either Dumbledore has been a moron and a foolish old man for twenty years, which is hard to believe as he’s the most powerful wizard alive, or Dumbledore is perfectly justified in trusting Snape, ultimately with his life. We don’t yet know what reason the Headmaster had for such trust, but just because neither the characters nor the readers have had the reason spelled out for them, doesn’t mean that the reason is either feeble or non-existent. -When Harry tells Dumbledore about his suspicions about Malfoy and Snape, Dumbledore says, “You might consider the possibility that I understood more than you did” about the situation....”You have not told me anything that causes me disquiet.” -Hagrid reports and argument between Dumbledore and Snape -Snape says Dumbledore “took too much for granted” and that maybe Snape doesn’t want to “do it anymore” -Dumbledore reminds Snape that “he agreed to do it” -Dumbledore says something about Snape making investigations in his house -Harry immediately interprets this to mean that Dumbledore didn’t think Snape tried hard enough to investigate -When Dumbledore was injured while destroying the ring Horcrux, Snape saved his life through “timely action” -As Dumbledore was injured over the summer, probably after Snape made the Vow, he could have easily just allowed him to die, if that’s what he wanted. If he was a loyal Death Eater, he put himself at risk by waiting, regardless of the fact that he was suppose to wait for Draco -When Harry uses the unknown curse and Malfoy is mortally wounded, Snape bursts in and heals his wounds -Draco dying then would mean that he couldn’t attempt to kill Dumbledore, which would break the Vow, which would probably kill Snape just as soon as Draco died....he might have lived long enough to try to kill Dumbledore, but probably not. Moving up the timetable so far would have truncated the knowledge that Dumbledore imparted to Harry and prevented them trying to destroy a Horcrux. -Snape was the one who overheard the prophecy and told Voldemort -Dumbledore says Snape made a “terrible” mistake -Says he was still a Death Eater at the time and hastened to tell his master, whom it concerned -Says Snape didn’t know Voldemort would murder Harry’s parents and try to kill Harry -“You have no idea of the remorse [he] felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy” -“I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned—“ -“I trust Severus Snape completely” -When Dumbledore is weak from the cave encounter, he says, “It is Professor Snape whom I need” -“Severus...I need Severus” -On the tower, Dumbledore says, “Go and wake Severus....Tell him what has happened and bring him to me” -If Dumbledore simply died, neither by Draco’s nor Snape’s hand, the terms of the Vow probably wouldn’t have been fulfilled, and Snape would die anyway. Dumbledore knew he needed Snape to get up there and do the deed before it was too late. -On the tower, Malfoy asserts that Snape is loyal to Voldemort -When Snape arrives in the tower, Dumbledore pleads with him -“Severus...please...” -Dumbledore is not necessarily pleading for his life; he could be pleading for Snape to do as he promised and end it. -“Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore and there was revulsion and hatred in the harsh lines of his face” just before he kills him -Harry makes chase and tries to curse Snape -Snape doesn’t hurt Harry, but merely protects himself and Malfoy -Harry calls Snape a coward -the first time, Snape disparagingly contrasts this allegation with the incidences of Harry’s dad and friends ganging up on Snape -the second time, “his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was IN AS MUCH PAIN as the yelping, howling dog” **Explanation: Snape had been a spy for 18 years and had just killed Dumbledore, his benefactor, on his orders -That anyone could DARE call him a coward after that sorely rankled Snape -Snape prevents the other Death Eaters from hurting Harry -says, “Potter belongs to the Dark Lord” -When Flitwick came to alert Snape to the Death Eater attack, Snape only stunned him, but didn’t kill him; neither did he kill the two students -Hermione, at least, along with Ron and Ginny drank some of the Felix Felisis potion -The potion probably would have allowed Hermione to stop or divert Snape IF THAT HAD BEEN WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. Instead, it didn’t warn Hermione at all about Snape’s intentions, therefore, what Snape intended to do must have been the correct action in the circumstance. ********************************** Obvious explanation -Snape has somehow managed to fool the greatest wizard of the age (who does have a propensity to trust and has been known to make mistakes) of his renunciation of Voldemort and subsequent fealty to Dumbledore, for a very long time -He killed Dumbledore on Voldemort’s orders, as backup if Draco failed **************************************** Subtler Explanation -Snape did turn spy for Dumbledore against Voldemort and has been doing it ever since -Snape took the unbreakable vow in order to cement his position as spy and to learn about Voldemort’s plan -He didn’t know he’d have to kill Dumbledore -Dumbledore found out that Draco was sent to kill him and that Snape was now bound to complete the mission, or die himself -Dumbledore decides to sacrifice himself in order to save Snape (and his position) and hopefully Draco as well -Dumbledore may already have been dying due to the ring Horcrux, and probably was after the cave potion -Dumbledore therefore orders Snape to follow through and kill him at need -Their overheard argument signifies Snape’s reluctance to carry this order out -Dumbledore gives Snape the DADA job in order to bring Slughorn to Hogwarts and ensure that Snape can easily leave -Dumbledore makes a point of securing Harry’s place at the Dursleys’ house the following summer, as if he knows he won’t be around to intervene, and must make arrangements ahead of time. -Dumbledore, unlike previous years, makes a big effort to impart to Harry all of the knowledge he believes pertinent to Voldemort’s downfall. -This is an indication that he knows he won’t be around for much longer to help Harry -Snape continues to watch Draco and questions him, hoping to discover the method he’ll use to get Dumbledore -Snape could have let Dumbledore die, or killed him, when the ring Horcrux injured him, but he saved him and slowed down the curse -Dumbledore wants Harry to bring Snape to the Tower, knowing that the time for his death has probably come -Dumbledore pleads with Snape to kill him has promised -Snape’s “revulsion and hatred” stem from this ultimate act of obedience he must commit against his benefactor -Snape did not hurt Harry or allow him to be hurt -Snape is enraged at being called a coward when he’s just had the balls to kill the man who redeemed him...on that man’s orders *************************************** Harry’s Prejudice -Harry is predisposed to believe evil of Snape because: -Snape has always treated him with disdain and has gone out of his way to make life difficult for him -Snape loathed Sirius Black, Harry’s beloved godfather, and James Potter -Partly due to the way James and Sirius treated Snape at school -Sirius’s “prank” nearly killed Snape, but Sirius wasn’t really punished for it, and Snape was forbidden to say anything about it; surely it must have felt like it was he who was being punished for the murder attempted upon his person -Snape and Sirius trade scathing insults during HP:OOTP -Harry concludes that this caused Sirius to leave the protection of headquarters -"Harry clung to this notion, because it enabled him to blame Snape" for Sirius’s death -Blaming Snape is so much easier and more comfortable to Harry than blaming himself, though it was to save HIM that Sirius left the safety of Headquarters. -Snape was a Death Eater -Despite Dumbledore’s trust in Snape, Harry, Ron, and Sirius frequently posit that he remains a Death Eater -Harry expresses his wish that Snape die, well before Dumbledore’s death -“That job’s jinxed....I’m going to keep my finger’s crossed for another death.” -Harry concludes from Snape’s description of the Dark Arts with “a loving caress in his voice” that Snape loves them -Hermione counters that she “thought he sounded a bit like” Harry in his tale of how it was to face Voldemort -Lupin says, “You are determined to hate him [Snape], Harry.” |