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[ebonlock]

So I finished the book officially last night and I am now more convinced than ever that Snape's actions were all part of the plan. The argument is just vaguely worded enough to leave it open to interpretation, but Albus reminding him forcefully that he promised (not "vowed", but it could've been Hagrid's word choice) to do as he was told. Severus doesn't balk at many orders, but if it had been one to kill Albus...

Also why would Severus have worked so hard to save Dumbledore when he was injured destroying the first Horcrux? If the plan was that the old guy was going to die anyway, why not just let him during that injury and claim there was nothing he could do? And beyond that, why Severus rather than Madame Pomfrey? Because he and Severus were working more closely together than ever, and only Snape knew what Dumbledore was up to.

Beyond that, the final battle with the DE's was so...sanitary after Snape showed up. He makes sure Flitwick and the girls are safely back in his rooms, doesn't harm a person going in or coming out (save Albus, but again, that was the plan all along), and does nothing worse to Harry than dangle him upside down when he's at his mercy. Hell, he doesn't even get pissed until Harry calls him a coward, which, again, tells me that he's doing something mind bogglingly brave here.

I can't help thinking the bit in the cave where Albus makes Harry promise to do what he's told, even if it ends up causing Dumbledore harm, was his own subtle way of trying to tell Harry what Snape was up to. He almost does as well when Harry asks why Dumbledore insists on trusting Snape. He pauses, if you'll recall, then gives the standard line. To my mind he thought about it, then remembered what a weak ass Occlumens Harry is, and decided not to.

Again I've also got to point back to all of Snape's earlier actions, particularly his unconscious ones, as indicators of his true nature. His appearance in the Foe Glass when Barty Crouch Jr. is revealed (and recall that he stays in the Foe Glass longer than the other two), in the PoA film when he jumps in front of the kids not once, but twice to protect them from the werewolf, his subtle protection of Harry in book one when he realizes what Quirrell's up to. The list goes on and on.

I do think that Dumbledore's explanation for his turn to the good side, his sincere regret over the deaths of the Potters, may clue us in to more motivation for the character as well. I think he was a bit soft on Lily, perhaps in love with her, but fully aware that he meant nothing to her. She, at least, treated him decently, and I expect she was about the only one at school (or at home) who did. When Harry starts using Snape's notes to make his potions better Slughorn immediately compares his work to Lily's (not Snape's, whom we'd presume should have been one of his favorites because of his brilliance), which makes me wonder if Snape didn't help her out. Maybe he even let her take the credit for his own work. He doesn't seem to have been credited with any of the ingenious dark arts he came up with either which I find interesting.

Yes I may just be a Snape apologist, I fully acknowledge that, but I'm not buying this abrupt turn to the dark side. Dumbledore put him in a position he knew full well to be cursed (DADA), knowing the man wouldn't last more than a year and would be forced to leave, that makes no sense unless the plan was all along to have Snape kill him and take the final step towards complete acceptance by Voldemort. It's an end game strategy, there's just no question in my mind.

For more really brilliant Snape theorizing check out envyofthestage's essay on why Snape hasn't turned to the dark side. EDIT: And one more quick link to another summary that makes a lot of sense to me.

Now that I've got that at least temporarily out of my system, several things. First, poor Bill! Second, go Fleur! Third, Tonks/Remus is growing on me. Fourth, the Harry/Ginny "Spiderman" thing was kinda weak. Fifth, what was up with the drawing of Snape with a goatee? I mean is the Spock goatee thing now a universal indicator of "evil" or what? Sixth, R.A.B. has got to be Regulus Black, how much you wanna bet that locket is stashed somewhere at 12 Grimmauld place? Seventh, could Harry's scar be the final Horcrux?

So many questions and we've got years to wait for the answers...*sigh*

Comments

[ophidiae.livejournal.com]

What You Said.

Fifth, what was up with the drawing of Snape with a goatee?

If you go back and look at the illustrations for the American editions of the books, you'll see that the artist has always drawn Snape with a goatee. Guess that's just how she saw the character.

Back to work now...

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

If you go back and look at the illustrations for the American editions of the books, you'll see that the artist has always drawn Snape with a goatee. Guess that's just how she saw the character.

See this is why I have the adult editions, 'cause the goatee thing is so "Mirror Universe" it's not even funny. Also, you finished the book! Yay! Another person I know who can't possibly have lost faith in Severus :)

[ophidiae.livejournal.com]

Also, you finished the book! Yay! Another person I know who can't possibly have lost faith in Severus :)

Lose faith in Severus? NEVER! Why, the very idea....

And I finished the book at about 5am on Saturday morning. As the copy I had ordered from Amazon was going to be delivered to Colorado while I languished in Florida, I took it upon myself to go to the local midnight release party and acquire a copy that way. Got home around one am, made a pot of tea, curled up on the sofa, and read it cover to cover in one sitting.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

And I finished the book at about 5am on Saturday morning. As the copy I had ordered from Amazon was going to be delivered to Colorado while I languished in Florida, I took it upon myself to go to the local midnight release party and acquire a copy that way. Got home around one am, made a pot of tea, curled up on the sofa, and read it cover to cover in one sitting.

And it only took you 5 hours?! Good lord, I bow before your superior reading speed :)

[ophidiae.livejournal.com]

More like five and a half, but yeah. Of course, I was pretty damned tired and fuzzy-brained by the end, so I'm doing a second, slower read-through to pick up any details I might have missed the first time around.