Snape's patronus

Originally Posted by Roxane

Thank you for the Slytherin point of view! No, was just joking.
Maybe I was not able to make it clear with my poor english, but there is no question about no respect for Snape what he has done in the end,
but what I just wanted to say is that he is not "the good boy" now.
Wow I mean that's great. Why do we always think there has to be black and white, good and bad.
One of the main themes in Deathly Hallows is about that.
Think of Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
And Harry, using the Imperius Curse, really meaning it!
What is good and what is bad?
It is clear on each end, but there is a very broad field in between.

Originally Posted by Psyduck

USING HATE.

Snape's best trick of all, better even than his performance on the night of Dumbledore's "murder," is his trick on Voldemort.

HP-6, page 26 (Snape to Bellatrix) "You think he is mistaken? Or that I have somehow hoodwinked him? Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen?"

HP-5, page 531, Snape said, "The Dark Lord... almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so utter falsehoods in his presence without detection."

I have suspected for a long time that Snape was faking it. The childish hostility between James and Snape when they were kids does not add up. He should have grown up and moved on by now. I am sure that Snape's carefully cultivated hatred of Harry is for a purpose. A good actor does not just pretend; he digs deep to find something that he can really feel. Sure, Snape's grudge against Harry is real. The best lies are half-true. But Snape is hamming it way-way-way up. I also believe that Dumbledore has been tolerating Snape's bad behavior, from the beginning, because it is a part of Snape's master plan for fooling Voldemort.

Snape is able to "shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie," but that is not enough. Eventually, Voldemort would notice a blank, stone wall where a person with emotions should be. Snape needs to fill that blank space with something credible. Voldemort does not have the social / emotional depth to psychoanalyze Snape. While intelligent enough in some ways, he is not big on people skills. He will see this strong emotion and believe it. And Snape can use it as a cover for whatever he is really up to.

Dumbledore, too, is fooling Harry so that Voldemort will believe. Dumbledore is taking advantage of the fact that Harry never mastered Occlumency. It is all for a good cause, and I am sure that Harry will approve and forgive in the end.

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AND SPEAKING OF HATE --
HP-6, page 595, "Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face."

HP-6, page571, "Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Harry forced the goblet back toward Dumbledore's mouth and tipped it, so that Dumbledore drank the remainder of the potion inside."

Like Harry, Snape was just following orders.
And like Harry, Snape was not happy about it.

Originally Posted by hpluver4ever

Originally Posted by teddylupin

I have to disagree. I see where you are coming from, which is a Harry-centered perspective, which is completely understandable, but there is a lot more than that.

Potions class, in the first place. Severus Snape was never cut out to be a teacher, that was part of his role as a protected spy. It was a comfortable position, granted, but it was something that should and would have never been mixed with a personality like Severus' in the first place. Secondly, he had a reputation to maintain. If Dumbledore knew Voldemort was going to come back, than he knew he would need his spy, as well. I find that it would probably be easier to be accepted back into the fold as a Death Eater after working so long for Dumbledore if you have been insulting and biased for the Slytherins, than if you had treated your Master's mortal enemy nicely. Thirdly, Severus held a gigantic grudge against Harry and James. But it was also about the fact that he had to see the name and face of his childhood tormentor in Harry, had to see the eyes of the person he had loved- and probably he considered having killed- on that face, to remind him of his biggest mistakes and what was taken from him. (Not to mention, if you still hate Snape, after Harry has forgiven him, than you hold a heck of a grudge, as well.) And part of him probably blames Harry, just a little, as well as himself and Dumbledore, for all the DE meetings and the things he's had to do to keep his cover. Because he can't blame, Lily, of course, but he can look at the person he's done it all for, and hate him a little more for that fact.

No, Severus Snape is far from being a perfect person. He had many flaws, had many shortcomings. He was still a Slytherin, and he would never be the things Gryffindors held dear. But he worked his whole life for some kind of redemption, died for some kind of redemption. And love. I think for someone who grew up with so much hate in his life, to be able to love someone so strongly, for an entire lifetime,- that deserves respect. If you can't repsect him for holding a position that many, many others would have crumpled in, or for his expertise in Potions, or for his loyalty to Dumbledore, than, at least, repsect him for that.

Originally Posted by amm

yeh i agree.
there were so many times throughout the years that snape could have let his hatred or remorse take over and take the easy road of being on voldemorts side. But i think the fact that loyalty and love outwiegh any other emotion, show Snape's great side (up until the second he died). He wasn't perfect like you said, but he certainly earned my respect. I had always knew/hoped that because dumbeldore trusted him, there would have to be a reason. its a shame we had to wait unil the 4th last chapter to find out! But that chapter had a great impact.

Originally Posted by teddylupin

Originally Posted by amm

yeh it was such a shame. I suppose to his credit, Harry had continued to clear his name (children's names) and like JK said, Harry was on a mission to get his portrait up in the headmaster's office.