This is a theory I picked up from http://www.veritaserum.com/editorials/?view=48 . I agree with it so much. It explains why Snape did what he did. Read it and tell me what you think.
Harry Has it Wrong!
by The Dungeon Queen
August 21, 2005
Spoiler Warning: This editorial is laden with major plot details from book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - read at your own risk!
As I finished my second reading of "Half Blood Prince," I badly needed a tangible, logical explanation for Severus Snape's actions. Some fellow Harry Potter fans are convinced Snape is still loyal to Voldemort and others write convincing cases that Snape is acting according to Dumbledore's instructions. In spite of its magical setting, it appears to me that all of the characters in the Harry Potter universe act reasonably and rationally based on their life experiences. What, then, can possibly motivate Severus Snape to act as he does in books one through six and what importance will this have in the final book of the series?
Harry believes he knows why Snape betrayed his parents to Voldemort and joined Dumbledore in his fight against the Dark Lord. In understanding Snape, however, Harry has it wrong - at least partially wrong. After Dumbledore's death, Remus Lupin, Professor McGonnagall, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others are in the hospital wing discussing why Dumbledore was so certain of Snape's loyalty. Harry is convinced he knows the reason and shares the following with his friends:
"'I know," said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. 'Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore that he hadn't realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he' done it, sorry that they were all dead.'...'And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either.' said Harry, 'because she was Muggle-born...'Mudblood,' he called her...'" p. 616 (American edition)
I am convinced Harry has Snape's story only partially correct. Snape did tell Voldemort about the prophecy, but Harry is wrong about Snape's feelings for Lily. I think Snape cared a lot more about Lily than Harry realizes. Dumbledore acknowledges how much Snape regretted his decision to tell Voldemort about the prophecy. "I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason he returned-" p. 549. However, Harry interrupts Dumbledore before he had finished his sentence. Harry again questions Dumbledore:
"How can you be sure Snape is on our side?"
Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely." p. 549.
It appears Dumbledore was thinking about telling Harry something more about Severus and his reasons for leaving Voldemort, but chose not to. Perhaps, Dumbledore had given Severus his word that he would never reveal Snape's reasons for leaving Voldemort.
I think Severus loved Lily. He clearly hated James. Although he knew them both, it would not explain his distress and anguish in learning Voldemort's plan to hunt them down and kill them. Loving Lily, however, would certainly provide more a credible explanation for his decision to leave the Dark Lord. Everyone listening to Harry's explanation "seemed to be lost in horrified shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth of what happened." p, 617. They are so shocked by Dumbledore's death that nobody questions Harry's assertions about Snape's feelings for Lily. As readers, JKR is manipulating her readers to accept Harry's explanation as valid and accurate.
In the chapter "Flight of the Prince", as Harry battles Snape, Snape makes a very interesting comment to Harry. Harry attempts to use the Sectumsempra spell against Snape, and Snape responds angrily, "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them - I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so...no!" p. 604. From Harry's potion book, we know Snape invented the Levicorpus spell, the Sectumsempra spell and many others. We also know James Potter used the Levicorpus spell to publicly humiliate Snape in front of Sirus, Lupin, Lily and a number of other Hogwart's students. When Lily attempted to help Snape, he called her a filthy little mudblood. Perhaps this is the event that turned Lily away from Snape permanently. It was some time after this that she started dating James. Snape who was only a half-blood, hated James Potter the pure blood - who ultimately married Lily, had the popularity and respect from the other students, and who took recognition for the spells Snape invented. In spite of it all, Snape continued to love Lily. It is his love that that caused his remorse and agony when he learned of Voldemort's intent to kill the Potters. Snape retained enough compassion and humanity that he had no stomach for killing and torturing people, especially people who were half-bloods such as himself or muggle-borns like Lily. Dumbledore continually reminds us of the power of love and its ability to overcome adversity and evil. Love for Lily is what kept Snape from surrendering himself to Voldemort.
I find it incredibly interesting in crafting and writing the consecutive chapters, "The Cave" and "The Lightning-Struck Tower," that JKR cleverly structures the earlier chapter to foreshadow the later chapter. Both Harry and Snape act in ways that can be interpreted as following Dumbledore's orders, and identical verbiage is used to describe both Harry and Snape's emotions as they are commanded to do the unthinkable. The following describes Harry when he forces Dumbledore to drink the potion: "Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Harry forced the goblet back toward Dumbledore's mouth and tipped it." p. 571. Snape is described as follows right before he kills Dumbledore: "Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face." p. 595. I must admit I believe Snape was acting according to Dumbledore's instructions and is no longer loyal to Voldemort. Snape hates Harry, he hates James, but he always loved Lily and continues to be loyal to Dumbledore in spite of killing him.
In the final book of the Harry Potter series, the remaining portion of Snape's story will unfold. In book six, Harry learned more from the Half-Blood Prince through his potions book than he learned from any other teacher. In Snape's first DADA lesson, Snape attempts to teach Harry and his fellow students how to execute spells without a wand. Even when Snape and Harry are fleeing Hogwart's, Snape continues taunt Harry telling Harry what he has to learn to succeed against Snape and the Death Eaters. "Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter." p. 603.
It will require immense talent and skill to break the magic protecting each of the remaining Horcruxes. Dumbledore, who was the greatest wizard of his time, lost his hand obtaining one Horcrux and was almost killed in his effort to obtain the other. Dumbledore might well have died had Draco and the Death Eaters not drawn him to the Astrology tower. One of the Death Eater even comments on Dumbledore's pale and weak condition. "He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me!" said the lopsided man..." p. 594. Harry must learn a great deal before he will be powerful enough to crack the magic and destroy the remaining four Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Snape is the one person remaining who understands Voldemort's mind and has the knowledge and expertise to help Harry. Harry will have to learn to trust Snape and become his student again before he will have the skills to defeat Voldemort. Snape will have to set aside his hatred of James to help and teach Harry to vanquish the Dark Lord. In spite of their differences, love drives and motivates them both.
by The Dungeon Queen
August 21, 2005
Spoiler Warning: This editorial is laden with major plot details from book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - read at your own risk!
As I finished my second reading of "Half Blood Prince," I badly needed a tangible, logical explanation for Severus Snape's actions. Some fellow Harry Potter fans are convinced Snape is still loyal to Voldemort and others write convincing cases that Snape is acting according to Dumbledore's instructions. In spite of its magical setting, it appears to me that all of the characters in the Harry Potter universe act reasonably and rationally based on their life experiences. What, then, can possibly motivate Severus Snape to act as he does in books one through six and what importance will this have in the final book of the series?
Harry believes he knows why Snape betrayed his parents to Voldemort and joined Dumbledore in his fight against the Dark Lord. In understanding Snape, however, Harry has it wrong - at least partially wrong. After Dumbledore's death, Remus Lupin, Professor McGonnagall, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others are in the hospital wing discussing why Dumbledore was so certain of Snape's loyalty. Harry is convinced he knows the reason and shares the following with his friends:
"'I know," said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. 'Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore that he hadn't realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he' done it, sorry that they were all dead.'...'And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either.' said Harry, 'because she was Muggle-born...'Mudblood,' he called her...'" p. 616 (American edition)
I am convinced Harry has Snape's story only partially correct. Snape did tell Voldemort about the prophecy, but Harry is wrong about Snape's feelings for Lily. I think Snape cared a lot more about Lily than Harry realizes. Dumbledore acknowledges how much Snape regretted his decision to tell Voldemort about the prophecy. "I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason he returned-" p. 549. However, Harry interrupts Dumbledore before he had finished his sentence. Harry again questions Dumbledore:
"How can you be sure Snape is on our side?"
Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, "I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely." p. 549.
It appears Dumbledore was thinking about telling Harry something more about Severus and his reasons for leaving Voldemort, but chose not to. Perhaps, Dumbledore had given Severus his word that he would never reveal Snape's reasons for leaving Voldemort.
I think Severus loved Lily. He clearly hated James. Although he knew them both, it would not explain his distress and anguish in learning Voldemort's plan to hunt them down and kill them. Loving Lily, however, would certainly provide more a credible explanation for his decision to leave the Dark Lord. Everyone listening to Harry's explanation "seemed to be lost in horrified shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth of what happened." p, 617. They are so shocked by Dumbledore's death that nobody questions Harry's assertions about Snape's feelings for Lily. As readers, JKR is manipulating her readers to accept Harry's explanation as valid and accurate.
In the chapter "Flight of the Prince", as Harry battles Snape, Snape makes a very interesting comment to Harry. Harry attempts to use the Sectumsempra spell against Snape, and Snape responds angrily, "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them - I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so...no!" p. 604. From Harry's potion book, we know Snape invented the Levicorpus spell, the Sectumsempra spell and many others. We also know James Potter used the Levicorpus spell to publicly humiliate Snape in front of Sirus, Lupin, Lily and a number of other Hogwart's students. When Lily attempted to help Snape, he called her a filthy little mudblood. Perhaps this is the event that turned Lily away from Snape permanently. It was some time after this that she started dating James. Snape who was only a half-blood, hated James Potter the pure blood - who ultimately married Lily, had the popularity and respect from the other students, and who took recognition for the spells Snape invented. In spite of it all, Snape continued to love Lily. It is his love that that caused his remorse and agony when he learned of Voldemort's intent to kill the Potters. Snape retained enough compassion and humanity that he had no stomach for killing and torturing people, especially people who were half-bloods such as himself or muggle-borns like Lily. Dumbledore continually reminds us of the power of love and its ability to overcome adversity and evil. Love for Lily is what kept Snape from surrendering himself to Voldemort.
I find it incredibly interesting in crafting and writing the consecutive chapters, "The Cave" and "The Lightning-Struck Tower," that JKR cleverly structures the earlier chapter to foreshadow the later chapter. Both Harry and Snape act in ways that can be interpreted as following Dumbledore's orders, and identical verbiage is used to describe both Harry and Snape's emotions as they are commanded to do the unthinkable. The following describes Harry when he forces Dumbledore to drink the potion: "Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Harry forced the goblet back toward Dumbledore's mouth and tipped it." p. 571. Snape is described as follows right before he kills Dumbledore: "Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face." p. 595. I must admit I believe Snape was acting according to Dumbledore's instructions and is no longer loyal to Voldemort. Snape hates Harry, he hates James, but he always loved Lily and continues to be loyal to Dumbledore in spite of killing him.
In the final book of the Harry Potter series, the remaining portion of Snape's story will unfold. In book six, Harry learned more from the Half-Blood Prince through his potions book than he learned from any other teacher. In Snape's first DADA lesson, Snape attempts to teach Harry and his fellow students how to execute spells without a wand. Even when Snape and Harry are fleeing Hogwart's, Snape continues taunt Harry telling Harry what he has to learn to succeed against Snape and the Death Eaters. "Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter." p. 603.
It will require immense talent and skill to break the magic protecting each of the remaining Horcruxes. Dumbledore, who was the greatest wizard of his time, lost his hand obtaining one Horcrux and was almost killed in his effort to obtain the other. Dumbledore might well have died had Draco and the Death Eaters not drawn him to the Astrology tower. One of the Death Eater even comments on Dumbledore's pale and weak condition. "He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me!" said the lopsided man..." p. 594. Harry must learn a great deal before he will be powerful enough to crack the magic and destroy the remaining four Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. Snape is the one person remaining who understands Voldemort's mind and has the knowledge and expertise to help Harry. Harry will have to learn to trust Snape and become his student again before he will have the skills to defeat Voldemort. Snape will have to set aside his hatred of James to help and teach Harry to vanquish the Dark Lord. In spite of their differences, love drives and motivates them both.
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Comments: 197
anna, that's VERY interesting..
But I don't agree about all that "Snape loves Lily" theory... Jo Rowling has said that Snape was loved and that's why he's even more guilty than Voldemort, but he didn't say who loved Snape... I really don't think Lily loved Snape, and I really don't think Snape LOVED Lily... as Rowling said, Lily was VERY popular at school, even Remus had some feelings for her, but just as she said, nothing to make him face James and fight for her feelings. So, I really don't hink that's the reason Snape went back to Dumbledore... and if that's the reason, then I'll be very dissapointed, because it's so cheesy and so obvious!!
I think we're being lead to one direction by JK Rowling and the fans, it's the fandom who's been saying all that SnapexLily thing and it's a good thing, because the REAL reason will be so surprising that nobody ever thought about it...
I think something else happened, something very important to Snape and very personal... something that was like an earthquake to his world and made him change, and that something is somehow related to the Potters... remember that he had a life debt with James, so I think something happened to Snape that he just couldn't let that happen to the Potters, no matter what... and since he couldn't save James and Lily from death, somehow that life debt is still working with Harry...
In trying to figure why Voldemort did not readily kill Lily, it crossed my mind that perhaps it was Wormtail who had a thing for Lily, and that he gave the info to Voldemort in exchange for a promise that Voldemort would not harm Lily. This could not have been the case with the information Snape supposedly gave to Voldemort about the Prophecy because the Prophecy did not specifically indicate Harry. It could be possible that they ALL (the Marauders and Snape) loved Lily.
Dungeon Queen's essay suggests explanation for Snape's behaviours and points to reasons to believe Snape has truly left the service of Voldemort. There are so many things it doesn't cover, though. Such as Aberforth. Aberforth is the one who caught Snape 'eavesdropping' and therefore may also have heard the Prophecy and therefore could be one who told Voldemort. We only have Dumbledore's word on the issue. Dumbledore may have been misinformed. Voldemort may have read the information in Aberforth's mind, meaning no one told him - he just gleaned it himself.
I am only suggesting these scenarios as alternate possibilities to Dungeon Queen's wonderful outlay. We could all, as Sara S. says, be way off the mark! Shireen S., you put it well - "we cant all wait for the next book. speculating somehow eases the our impatience and excitement." I agree!!!!!!!
Pettigrew would probably follow James anywhere, even to the dark lord.
I don't recall ever reading what happened to James Potter. He might even still be alive.
If Snape was risking his own life to defeat Voldermort, would that explain his extreme hatred of James if James betrayed them all?
Wouldn't Snape now have reason to be very suspicious of Harry and believe he might follow in his footsteps? Wouldn't that belief be reinforced when Snape discovers Harry is a Parselmouth and then discovers he shares Voldermort's thoughts? Suspicion that Harry is actually Voldemort's agent would explain a lot of Snape's reactions to Harry.
What if Snape had played a major part in Voldemort's original defeat. It is implied that Voldemort was defeated because his attack on Harry failed. What if Snape had stopped Voldemort's attack and Harry's scar was only the result of a slight bit of misdirected spell? Snape had risked his life and then defeated Voldemort, but the baby Harry received all of the credit.
Also, suppose Snape had found an alternate that he believed would fulfill the prophecy. Could Draco Malfoy be the one? He has certainly had his father destroyed by Voldemort. This might help explain his deference to Draco since day one and his rationale for making the unbreakable oath. He has been training Draco to defeat Voldemort while the rest of the world was looking at Harry Potter.
Snape, the enduring loner, who has never received credit for his earlier heroics, is now protecting the true heir of the prophecy. I can't say I fully buy this theory myself, but it does seem to nicely tie up a bunch of loose ends.
Dan L. its a good theory but on mugglenet.com jk has stated that dumbledore is turly dead and wont come back. Sorry
whoah!!! there's so many speculations arising! wild ones i should say. i too speculated a weird one.
snape has always envied james. and if he loves lily, he would hate james all the more.but what if wayne is right of james being a traitor? he have done terrible things in his years at hogwarts like hexing any one he likes at the corridors and we all know how he treated snape then. he could have been a deatheater. but why doesn't the wizarding world know anything about it? could it be possibly because he turned out to be dead? but what if he's not? and wayne, if snape helped harry and was at the scene harry's parents' died why didn't he told anyone about it? like dumbledore. and why on earth is snape is still trusted by voldemort if he defeated him? it is clearly stated that lily's protection to harry put V to ruins. not snape or anybody else.
But come on...Harry has to be right sometimes. He's been getting it wrong since book 1, and this time I think he's right about one thing--Snape has gone to Voldemort again, and is not on Harry's side anymore (if he ever was). I don't think Harry and Snape have the same interests, or are working for the same end for the war. Snape is out for himself first, Voldemort second. Harry is out for the good of the Wizarding World as a whole, Dumbledore's memory, etc.
My opinion on the matter, anyhow.
As far as the article at the top it kind of jogged my memory about something. In the 6th book it is brought to our attention that the unbreakable vow can be made to protect someone. Is is all the hard to expect that Dumbledore may have made the unbreakable vow with Snape to not tell anyone about the reason he trust Snape?
I can't wait for the last book. It will be so interesting to see where it goes. We can only wait till it comes out, but till it does I love debating about it. It makes it more exciting when we do find out what happens.
Dana B. is right on about the James is NOT alive part, though. James came out of Voldemort's wand in Goblet of Fire during the Priori Incantatem chapter.
Wayne M. suggests Snape could have been involved in the downfall of Voldemort at the Potters. On that same subject, I've always suspected Dumbledore had a hand in it. Dumbledore had James Potters Invisibility Cloak when Voldemort attacked the Potters, but Dumbledore doesn't need an Invisibility Cloak to make himself invisible. So why would he have it? Either to keep it away from Voldemort (the Potters knew Voldemort was after them - they got a Secret Keeper) OR Dumbledore needed the cloak for something.
What kind of something would Dumbledore need the cloak for? First, remember he could have had it merely to keep it away from Voldemort. Or maybe he needed it to loan to one of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. (Snape, for example?) Or maybe he needed it to copy it/replicate it - to make a new one. Or to use it to hide an object? We really don't have enough clues. But J.K. Rowling said on her site that the reason Dumbledore had the cloak is an important aspect of the story.
One more thing about James Potter, we need to understand what he and Lily did for a living. In Prisoner of Azkaban, we are teased at the Dursleys' when Aunt Marge asks Vernon what James Potter did for a living.
(p.28) "Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were looking extremely tense. Dudley had even looked up from his pie to gape at his parents." (this tells me even Dudders was curious to know) ' "He -- didn't work," said Uncle Vernon, with half a glance at Harry. "Unemployed." '
In my opinion, it's a LIE just like the lie he told Marge about Harry going to St. Brutus's
Ok he said he created the spells in the potions book, a 6th year book, yet James used the Levicorpus spell on him in their 5th year. Why did he only put the spell down in a book the following year? Doesn't really make sense, unless he wrote it down in his 5th year book as well, then somehow James stole the book and learned the spell to use on him. Doesn't add up.
We also have Lupin stating that spells come and go out of favor/use, we see the DE's at the QWC use the same spell (levicorpus) on the muggle family, each of the DE's there that night were older than Snape, so did he teach the spell to them as well? OR is it instead that the spells in the book are older? Snape wouldnt be the first character we see in the books to claim something out of a book as his own creation. Like oh say Harry and all the potions tricks he uses in 6. He claimed it was his work when it wasn't. Unless you think Snape is above something like that, claiming something as not his own? Add in the fact that the same book belonged to his mom, was a school issue book, which means it had no original owner but the school, that it dates back around 50 years so, that leaves a LOT of people having used that book over the years.
And as far as Snape loving Lily..since I can't say anything nice about this theory I'll just say that I totally disagree and leave it at that.
I thought with book 6 people would get all the little sublties about 'Cissy and Snape but nope, everyone still goes with the Lily/Snape thing.
Also i feel that there is more to the incident where Harry uses the shield charm during one of his occlumency lessons and gets a peek into Snape's memory...
about the crying girl...and boy huddled in the corner, shooting down flies...
I feel these might be things whihc could be important in the next book...
I think Harry had a reaction like that - deep betrayal. Snape had saved his bum many times and was fighting the good fight according to Dumbledore. Even if Harry questioned Snape's loyalties, I think he did so more out of habit and reaction to the man's vile attitude. Then he spent his year getting to know the Half-Blood Prince. Harry *was* quite fond of him wasn't he? The Sectumsempra business shook him up sure, but for the most part I think Harry recognized a kindred spirit. Maybe not so much in the potion ability but in essence (think back to how certain he was that the writer in the textbook was a boy). To have a double betrayal from Snape and the Half-Blood Prince (Snape again!) would have ripped into Harry's already vulnerable state... Not to say he was a weakling but he desperately needs some training (a.k.a. shut mouth & close mind) or the wizarding world is going to be bowing to Voldie in no time.
I would have to plea from the bottom of my heart that Snape is a "good guy." I mean - oh sure - he is a snarky, bad tempered, ill-mannered, son-of-a-gun, greasy, git of a man, and a fool for ever bowing to Lord Moldypants...
But I like him. I shall continue to honor the memory of Albus' trust and trust that Snape shall return...
As a friend.
Ok, maybe more like an ally... he isn't really the friendly type.
~StolenDreamer (newbie to the conversation - don't mind me!)
Thats a point I've been trying to argue on the mess. boards I go to. Those same arguments, or similar ones at least, Jk is horrible at math by her own confession (hence her changing birthdays around and getting her own verified and agreed to time line wrong) and the book publication date is the one big thing I can't counter yet. But she's made time/math mistakes in everybook so far so...
We have Harry's own words where he says he felt an affinety for the boy who wrote those notes in the potions book. WHAT 1 character in the series has Harry felt that way about before? Go back to book number 2 and the diary of Tom Riddle. He felt a connection to Tom, even as far back as book 1, Harry mentions a familiarity to Tom. In book 2 we had a character taken in by a book which led to all sorts of trouble, in 6 a repeat of the same thing, minus the horcrux of course, but still Tommy corrupts everything and everyone he comes into contact with. Those notes in that potions book lead Harry down a dark and dangerous path, he became what he hated the most about both his father and Sirius. He did things that he hated in others (picking on those who couldnt fight back when he jinxed Crabbe/Goyle and Filtch, just because he could)
The potions book gave him an excuse for doing these things, where he should have recieved punishment he got praise for being a potions genius. A true corruption of the innocent. Somehow, as big an ass as Snape is he isn't that bad as to nearly completly corrupt Harry, something which Tommy hasnt been able to do.
Nevertheless, I still think the Half-Blood Prince is Snape. Surely, he had to buy his books second hand. Also, the book could have originally belong to his mother, Diane Prince, who would also be 2 generations (50 years) older than Harry.
And notice that after the account of what DID happen when James and Lily died, VOldy killed James without a problem, but he was willing to let Lily go, the Muggle Born. she need not to have died, just Harry. so yeah thats what i think.
However, it might explain why Snape is hard on Hermione--calling her a silly girl and taking point away from the gryffindor house on her behalf all the time. She was told by Sirius Black that she was the cleverest witch of her time. Lupin expressed how clever she was as well and his discription of Lily to Harry in book 3 accurately discribes Hermione as well. I think Snape see's it as well and thats why he is the way he is with her.
Do I think Snape loved Lily? Maybe Snape just didnt like her goody goody way as how he doesn't like Hermione's--then again, Snape loveing lily is a reasonable theory--is it a right one??????
Where is it written that Voldemort was willing to let Lily go?
Snape is a loner and has a (perhaps justifiable) opinion of himself and he is not a pure blood. I just don't see him joining up with the Deatheaters and pledging allegiance to Voldermort. If, however, he was trailing after Narcissa, then it seems believable.
This also would how Snape, a half blood, could become popular with the Malfoys. I believe in Book 5, Umbridge said something like, "Lucius Malfoy speaks highly of you" to Snape. This would explain about Snape's treatment of Draco from book 1. Draco Malfoy exhibited all the characteristics that Snape hated about James Potter, but Snape chose to ignore those.
Let me throw something a little off the wall into the mix. In book 1, Snape is described as "a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin." (page 126). In book 4, Krum is described as "thin, dark, and sallowed skinned, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows." (page 105). Could Victor Krum be Snape's son?
Thats way out there dude, when you said krum might be Snape's son. But hey, you just might be on to something there.
And if Snape is on the side of the good, he would have to treat Harry as always so as not to give a hint to the other Death Eaters that he was in reality trying to give Harry a clue as to how to defend himself. Even when I read HBP the first time, I knew that Snape was giving Harry one final lesson. I just hope Harry got the anvil sized hint once he got over his shock at Dumbledore's death & Snape's "betrayal." Plus I don't think that Snape knows what or where all the horcruxes are. However with his killing of Dumbledore, maybe V will now trust him enough to spill the beans and then Snape will have to try to find some way to regain Harry's trust (HA!!! Like that'll happen easily) to let him know. I still think that some of these curses on the horcruxes will have to be broken by Bill Weasley since he is a curse breaker. Anyway that's my opinion for whatever it's worth.
To make another point, we are coming up on the last book and clearly, when there's a heroic character such as Harry, the hero always goes on alone. From a literary perspective, it would not make sense for Snape to come back into the picture and be on Harry's side -- Harry needs to conclude this saga for himself.
And yes Rowling has given us some terrible things, BUT she has also hinted at redemption and I think that Dumbledore had to have good reasons to have that kind of faith in Snape. And I hope that these will yet be revealed, because although I am not a big Snape fan, I do hope that she shows that even terrible pasts can lead to redemption.
Who else do you think is getting to the horcruxes???? Do you think it is Snape, or some player to be named later?? Or someone we know that we just haven't seen in this light (helping defeat Voldemort) yet??
There must be more to it than just James and Snape hating each other. And of curse James saving Snapes life. It's just... Snape really hates James (and harry).
I have this theory that Snape owes more than just his life to the Potters, and then he couldn't save their lives, then he is trying to save Harry's.
Or.. Dumbledore has protected Snape from Azkaban and who knows else. Dumbledore knows something about Snape that no one else knows and makes him sure that Snape is on his side. Maybe they have sworded by the unbreakable vow or something else.
Dumbledore says to Harry in the 3rd book, that when a wizard saves another wizards life a bond is tied between them. This is the very deepest magic. My believes is that Snape is acting after Dumbledore's orders, because Snape is in debt to Dumbledore. And Dumbledore needs Snape to help Harry. And then Dumbledore sacrifice's his own life. Does this make any sense at all?
But then I don't understand why Dumbledore is pleading Snape at the moment of the murder? Now I'm really confused...
On Dumbledore's death:
ES: Was Dumbledore planning to die?
JKR: [Pause] Do you think that's going to be the big theory?
MA and ES: Yes. It'll be a big theory.
JKR: [Pause] Well, I don't want to shoot that one down. [A little laughter] I have to give people hope.
MA: It goes back to the question of whether Snape is a double-double-double-triple-
JKR: [Laughs] Double-double-quadruple-to-the-power-of - yeah.
MA: - whether this had been planned, and since Dumbledore had this knowledge of Draco the whole year, had they had a discussion that said, "Should this happen, you have to act as if it is entirely your intention to just walk forward and kill me, because if you don't, Draco will die, the Unbreakable Vow, you'll die," and so on -
JKR: No, I see that, and yeah, I follow your line there. I can't - I mean, obviously, there are lines of speculation I don't want to shut down. Generally speaking, I shut down those lines of speculation that are plain unprofitable...
On Snape:
MA: Okay, big, big, big Book 6 question. Is Snape evil?
JKR: [Almost laughing] Well, you've read the book, what do you think?
ES: She's trying to make you say it categorically.
MA: Well, there are conspiracy theorists, and there are people who will claim -
JKR: Cling to some desperate hope [laughter] -
ES: Yes!
MA: Yes!
JKR: Well, okay, I'm obviously - Harry-Snape is now as personal, if not more so, than Harry-Voldemort. I can't answer that question because it's a spoiler, isn't it? Whatever I say, and obviously it has such a huge impact on what will happen when they meet again that I can't. And let's face it, it's going to launch 10,000 theories, and I'm going to get a big kick out of reading them so [laughs] I'm evil but I just like the theories. I love the theories.
ES: I know Dumbledore likes to see the good in people but he seems trusting almost to the point of recklessness sometimes.
[Laughter]
JKR: Yes, I would agree. I would agree.
ES: How can someone so -
JKR: Intelligent -
ES: - be so blind with regard to certain things?
JKR: Well, there is information on that to come, in seven. But I would say that I think it has been demonstrated, particularly in Books 5 and 6 that immense brainpower does not protect you from emotional mistakes, and I think Dumbledore really exemplifies that. In fact, I would tend to think that being very, very intelligent might create some problems and it has done for Dumbledore, because his wisdom has isolated him, and I think you can see that in the books, because where is his equal; where is his confidante; where is his partner? He has none of those things. He's always the one who gives; he's always the one who has the insight and has the knowledge. So I think that, while I ask the reader to accept that McGonagall is a very worthy second-in-command, she is not an equal. You have a slightly circuitous answer, but I can't get much closer than that.
On R.A.B.
MA: R.A.B.
JKR: Ohhh, good.
[All laugh.]
JKR: No, I'm glad! Yes?
MA: Can we figure out who he is, from what we know so far?
[Note: JKR has adopted slightly evil look here]
JKR: Do you have a theory?
MA: We've come up with Regulus Black.
JKR: Have you now?
MA: Uh-oh.
[Laughter]
JKR: Well, I think that would be, um, a fine guess.
Sorry for posting so much, but I thought it was all very relevant, and probably one of the most revealing interviews since the two people who were interviewing JKR are huge fans and run websites dedicated to Harry Potter. The entire interview can be found here: http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview.shtml
This should spark some interesting discussion. ;)
The love that Snape experienced was a mother's love, something Voldemort and Harry had, but never knew. In OOTP, Harry saw one of Snape's memories of an abusive father (who BTW was a muggle). In families suffering from violence the children tend to identify with the parent suffereing the abuse - in this case - Snapes's mother. It's just a guess at this point, but the person who loved him probably was his mother.
Okay, to digress from canon a moment and look at the author's motivation - during the long process of writing SS, JKR lost her mother to MS. She even states on her website that the death of her mother greatly affected the course of the novels, and expecially Harry. I don't believe JKR has laid all her cards on the table yet, so this is pure speculation. Perhaps in his quest to kill the Potters, Voldemort also killed the one person who loved Snape - Eileen Prince, his mother. This could be the reason that Snape would not only turn against Voldemort, but take on the risky and frustrating position as a double agent. Because ultimately Snape feels guilty for the death of his own mother...
If J.K. Rowling does in fact turn this around and have him play "the good guy," I sure hope there's enough credible evidence to make us say, "Oh wow, he is a great person," because right now, I feel that there's so much negativity around him that there's no way Harry could ever completely forgive him. I think it'd be easier for Snape to just be bad, and Harry keep his focus on Voldemort. I do feel that Snape is really going to complicate things for Harry because there isn't a doubt in my mind that he knows about the Horcruxes or will know by book 7.
R.A.B. is going to be really interesting and I have always realized that in interviews, J.K. Rowling kind of skirts the issues regarding Sirius' death so I've always wondered if these two stories are related. I would love for Harry to get more closure with this because Sirius was an awesome character and if Sirius could send a message from "beyond the veil," that'd be awesome.
Throughout the series, Snape saves Harry's life several times. I think he does this almost unconciously, trying to save the last reminder he has of his beloved Lily, even if he is her son by another man. Since he could not save Lily, and hates himself for (indirectly) causing her death, he is determined to save her only child.
Wow... I could never quite reconcile Snape's conflicting actions until I read this article. It really makes sense, and I certainly couldn't come up with a better explanation.
After all, not all characters are cut-and-dry, black-and-white. We all have good and bad in ourselves. Why should Snape be any different?
I also have gone back several times to a small sentience in book three where Dumbledore explains to Harry that by saving Wormtail he has created a bond with him, in that Wormtail now owes Harry. I can not wait to see what happens in the last book
I think that those who are convinced of Snape's goodness are in denial. For Snape's actions not to amount to betrayal, Dumbledore must still be alive. Consider aspects of this hypothesis:
Snape was following Dumbledore's orders, which he received via legilimency. While it was true that Dumbledore was willing to die to save Harry, Harry was not in any immediate danger because he was hidden under the cloak, paralyzed. If Dumbledore gave any telepathic orders to Snape at that moment, those orders did not include killing him. Dumbledore knew that, for Harry to be able to kill Voldemort, Harry's abilities had to improve drastically. Indeed, except for when he rises to certain occasions, Harry, throughout most of the stories, seems to be a better-than-average wizard for his age at best. He is not even Snape's equal, nor Lupin's, nor Hermione's, let alone Voldemort's. (Harry had better be a late bloomer, for he has a lot of blooming to do.) Dumbledore would have known that Harry's best chance of rising to the level at which Harry could defeat Dumbledore would have been for Dumbledore to have taught him highly advanced magic, which would not have been possible posthumously.
If Dumbledore is alive, then he did not fall from the tower to the ground. This would have involved him apparating to the ground from mid-air as he was falling, and gambling that no one saw him disappear during the fall, then reappear on the ground, where he would have impersonated death.
Consider also the Unbreakable Vow that Snape made at the beginning of Book Six. Somehow he would have had to have figured out a way to break it.
If anyone from the Dark Side helps Harry, I believe it will be Wormtail (as has been foreshadowed) and Malfoy, who seemed horrified with the actual possibility of killing Dumbledore, and who was on the verge of giving Dumbledore back his wand when the Death-Eaters arrived.
As for RAB, I, too, thought it might be Regulus Black, whose middle initial we don't know at this point. However, he is described as having been a bit of a dunce. If that was the case, he would not have been able to get the horcrux on his own.
I also think there's more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye. Could she have loved Snape or James at one time?
I agree w/the Dumbledore returning theory as well. I thought the same thing when Harry saw the phoenix fly away. Snape would have had to kill him in order for him to be reborn.
I can't wait for the book to come out; but I'm desperately hoping that JKR doesn't kill off any of my favs, like Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid; I do wonder if she may kill off Snape after he is revealed to be working for Dumbledore.