Snape and Voldemort

[Lelie]

throughout HBP, it seems as if we are being set up to believe that snape is really voldemort's confidante; a truly close ally. However, DD tells harry that he believes that voldemort never really wanted, or needed, friends, and all those who believed they were close to him were basically deluding themselves. is snape deluding himself by believing he is close to voldemort, or is this a ploy to throw us off and make us believe snape is wholeheartedly evil? i can't decide, but i have a feeling that particular passage is a key to the whole "is he or isn't he" problem. if voldemort never wanted or needed anyone, he certainly wouldn't begin with snape.

(sorry if this belongs in another thread... if you need to move it, please do!)

[darkcloak]

Interesting point but I think it works both ways.

In my opinion Voldemort is clearly using Snape and Snape is too clever not to realise this, so the real question is why is Snape using Voldemort? For his own good or others?

[Broccoli]

throughout HBP, it seems as if we are being set up to believe that snape is really voldemort's confidante; a truly close ally.

I must disagree on this. The first time we meet Snape in the book we learn that Wormtail lives in his house and tries to spy on Snape, apparantly vor LV. Then, there is the plan Draco is trying to put in action and Snape is desperate to know what exactly he is planning, but he doesn't get the information. I personally didn't get the impression that Snape is that close to LV.

[Phinea Rogue]

I suppose (hope) that Snape is clever enough to realise that Voldemort is using him. I don't think that he (Snape) has ever trusted anyone or ever thought someone to be close to him, a friend. Voldemort is only using him (as he uses all the others), but Snape must have something to gain from it, he sort of uses Voldemort too. What for, I have no idea...

[Un'Anima Persa]

I have to sgree with almost everyone here.

I do think that they are using each other.

Like has been said, Wormtail was spying on Snape.
I wonder if it is just that snape is trying to gain power. He has been a mere teacher (im not putting teachers down but, obviously, snape wants more) for his career, But harry has been in the papers, hes had power. hes a mere child, yet he has so much glory, he's in the papers, whether good or bad, he's there.

I wonder if the only reason he became a teacher was that he was using voldemort from the start. If Voldie knew that DD trusted Snape, then why shouldnt VOldemort use Snape to get closer to Harry (not lovingly, hatefully... you get it)? It may also be that they want the same thing. What if, like Voldemort, Snape wants Harry dead?

yes, this all goes completely against my 'snape acted on DD's orders by killing him' theory, but what if the scars left by James and the gang had gone deeper than we thought? Two of his enemies are dead, but there is a replica of one standing in front of him. The qualities in harry reflect a little of what sirius is like, as well as what has been said about James.
And now that Harry knows about it, it's worse.

The hatred that has built up in snape for years is finally starting to show. It's coming out, and there's no stopping it. There is no way that Snape is going to let Harry steal the spotlight anymore.

[Phinea Rogue]

I don't know what Snape wants. Does he want power? Does he, as Un'Anima Persa said, want to be in papers? Famous? Does he want glory? Sometime he seems to me that he wants to be well-known for something (e.g. when he lost the Order of the Merlin, he clearly wasn't taking it well), recognised. And then, he seems to me to be a kind of a man who prefers to be secretly pulling the strings, not in the spotlight... hidden, but powerful.

[Aberforth]

Snape is certainly a complex guy. Perhaps his desire for fame (his retracted order of merlin) has something to do with gaining approval from his father. In Ootp, Harry sees a glimpse of Snape's dad shouting at his mum when he looked into snapes memories in the pensieve. That indicates an unhappy home life and a difficult father.

I still think Snape is a good guy. There a points in HBP that his face gives away his emotions - most unlike Snape as his is usually so good at hiding them. When he does the unbreakable curse he flinches a little, perhaps because he really didn't want to do it but was forced into a corner to protect his cover.

[Tanuki]

What cover could he have now? the only person he ever reported to is dead. How is he supposed to maintain a mission when he has broken all ties with he former faction? And if he is supposed to provide some help to Harry or betray Voldermort, how will he do it if Harry is gunning for him?

[Aberforth]

I'm guessing that snape will have his orders and will pretty much follow them according the DDs plan. He knows he has a thankless task and that he will probably never be forgiven or believed to be on the right side, but will follow through the plan regardless. Just because DD is dead, I don't think that snape would run amok and forget to complete his mission.

[Tanuki]

Have you seen Snape's personality, the conept of a thankless task is hideous to him. If there is no reward, he doesn't want in. He busts Harry with the solemn hope of Getting him kicked out of Hogwarts, or getting him thrown off the quidditch team.

[Mistress Siana]

As far as the relationship between Snape and Voldemort is concerned...I wonder if it plays any role that they have such a similar history? Pureblood mother, Muggle father (whom both Snape and Voldemort appear to have hated), Slytherin, love for the Dark Arts, both wanting the DADA position, both somewhat brilliant at school...and of course the royal titles they chose for themselves...the Lord and the Prince. I know 'Prince' was meant to refer to his mother's maiden name, but I can't help seeing a connection there - like the senior, the Lord, and the junior, the Prince.
Could Voldemort have seen those similarities and therefore started to support Snape? He's never wanted a friend or relied upon anyone but himself, but he might have reacted a bit differently if he, well, saw himself again in somebody else.

[Person1]

Well, what if DD wasn't the only one Snape reported to..? There are a few people D trusts in Hogwarts to do dangerous or illegal things....such as (a bit of a stretch) Hagrid?

[Lelie]

i doubt he reported to hagrid... i don't think that snape would be ok with that. i suppose it is possible that he reported to someone else, but it would basically have to be mcgonagall. i don't think he could handle reporting to lupin or arthur weasley. it would be demoralizing to him. no one else seemed to know about his relationship with voldemort. what do you think bella knows that makes her so distrustful? her reasons in "spinner's end" seemed... weak.

[Tanuki]

The woman just spent 16 or so years in Azkaban; her judgement may be a little off. It's very likely she developed a paranoid personality, so she may not need strong reasons to do things

[Aberforth]

Plus Bella is smarting about having LV lose confidence in her after the MoM thing at the end of OotP. Bella was sure she was the most favoured disciple of LV, but since then has not been privy to all the dark lord's plans.

She is jealous that snape seems to be in favour when she isn't anymore.