superwizard wrote:But let's talk about that low life skum of a wizard (Snape). Why do you think he went bad? I don't think he went from good to bad, I think he was always evil. You should have seen me after I read the sixth book, I was fuming and angry and I got in a fight with pretty much everyone I saw. Dumbledore was my favorite character and I reall went angry when he died.
Why do you do this to me? Why? I am now tempted to write a dissertation, a life's work on the subject....and it may all be proven wrong in less than a year. Why me???
Hehe, just kidding. I do think it is an interesting question. I've currently written over 30,000 words of a fan-fiction giving my
precise answer, but I'll summarize
.
Snape had a lousy childhood. He did not know love at home. He hated his father - who had a temper (hmmm, sound familiar? Ever seen that in
him before?) At school, he was a loner, admired by the older Slytherins as a clever boy (prodigy, almost), but no real friends. He was the preferred target of the Marauders, who were real berks by year 5. In year 6, Sirius Black (who also had a rotten home life) tried to kill him. Dumbledore (the focus of justice in the world) chose to look the other way.
That was it. From that point on, it was inevitable that Snape would allow his hatred of the world to draw him inexorably towards the Death Eaters - who had the power to settle petty vengances.
I think it was Lucius Malfoy who was responsible for forging that connection. He would be the one to introduce Snape to LV, or at the very least make it possible for him to become a Death Eater. He exudes 'patron' in his dealings with Snape, even 15 years later. I also think it clear that Tobias Snape is now dead - and not from old age. While I will not go so far as to say Snape murdered him....he is not guiltless in the death. Snape's skills (in the Dark Arts or Potions) would set him apart and allow him to join the DE's despite his blood. And his 'gang of Slytherins', the only friends he had, were all Death Eaters.
But Snape was different from the other DE's. He is petty and cruel, I will grant you that. But he is also intelligent (so not fooled by LV's rhetoric) and he has a sense of honor and rules. He is always angry with Harry for
breaking the rules - he really wants to see justice in the world. So, in a sense, he has something in common with Javert (from Les Mis). It was only a matter of time before he became disillusioned with the Death Eaters.
But when, and how? I'm not sure. But I am fairly certain it was
after LV asked him to get a job at Hogwarts, spying on Dumbledore...so
after he told LV the prophecy. My guess (and I will fully admit this is still fan-fiction, for now) is that when he realized that Lily Evans Potter would become a victim of LV, and it was all
his fault... he wanted out. But how? Regulus reached the same decision, and ended up dead. You can't
quit the Death Eaters! So...Snape went to Dumbledore, confessed, and wanted some guarantee of his life in return. Dumbledore, recognizing the power of love, (You see, Snape
Lily), accepted the repentance as genuine and agreed to vouch for Snape (saving him from the Ministry), and Snape agreed to spy on LV ('saving' him from LV). Or something like that.
So, now Snape is a double-agent...and both of his bosses
know that he is a double agent (but of course think he's really working for them...) As a true Slytherin, Snape's primary concern is his own neck. But...he prefers Dumbledore to LV. He doesn't
like Dumbledore, but he respects him a lot more. He is better friends with the DE's than the Order members... but he is more accepted in the Order. He wants LV to be defeated, once and for all, in fact wants it very badly...
...which is why he's so disappointed in Harry. This kid is his only hope - and he's just
average. He's not clever like Hermione, he doesn't have any real flair for magic, he doesn't even work hard at school. And he looks like his hated dad...and it's all his fault Lily is dead.
That is why Snape treats Harry like dirt. He can't stand him, but only because his hope is there...and he sees no reason to hope. Dumbledore (who understands the power of
), is confident in Harry. But Snape (who does not), does not see any reason to be hopeful.
That is why he thinks it so important that Harry learn Occlumency and non-verbal spells.
I think something fishy happened on the Tower. Dumbledore could have fought back, but chose not to. He was only powerless because he chose to be. Why? My guess is that he thought it more important to spare Draco (whose task he was aware of, remember). So, yes, I think that he begged Snape
to kill him, not to spare him. "Severus, please...." is so open to interpretation
. I also suspect that he was dying already - whether from the potion he drank, or the injury to his hand.
As for what happens now? Snape is toast. He won't survive the war. The truth will come out, though. Harry will have to learn that he was wrong about him all along. He just
has to...
PS - And welcome to you,
Wagner! I'm glad you found your way over here. As you can see, your reputation precedes you
:D
I read the rest of the book saying to myself: He's gonna come back I know he is. Alas that did not happen. 
I hated Snape before book 6 but after it man oh man if I was at Hogwarts I would have hunted Snape down and I would finish him off. 
I expect to see him again because his 'death' was just so........so............"unfinal". And there's something about that mirror he left with Harry.........
