Why I think Snape is good.
I don't have an essay prepared, but I was reading OotP last night, and came across something that has 99% convinced me of Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore.
page 469, chapter 24, "Occlumency", UK edition:
Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing.
'Only muggles talk of "mind-reading". The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter- or at least, most minds are," He smirked. "It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down their feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can utter falsehoods in his presence without detection.'
Snape makes a point of saying 'The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him.' This 'almost', this affirmation that yes, Voldemort can be fooled, and only by those skilled at Occlumency (Well, lookee here, we know Snape is a natural). Which leads me to think that Snape is showing off in front of Sirius, who he baits because Sirius is staying indoors at number 12, whilst Snape gets his hands dirty with the biggest of the big boys, the Death Eaters. Snape is really saying, I'm hugely important to the Order, and not only that, but I'm also incredibly clever and skilled. Had Dumbledore not trusted Snape completely and his abilities as an Occlumens, he wouldn't have sent him back into the fold, the DEs. Snape is even good enough at Occluemncy that he gives Harry Potter, the Chosen Boy Who Lived, the most important tool in the whole war, lessons.
So Voldemort does not know Snape is still loyal to Albus, because as good as the Dark Lord is at Legilimency, Snape is talented at Occlumency, something we are shown at different times throughout the book. OotP has been criticised for laying too much groundwork, but I disagree: I think we are introduced to just enough to make our brains really tingle. Because, cello, the locket in Grimmauld Place? Horcrux, anyone?
Your thoughts?
page 469, chapter 24, "Occlumency", UK edition:
Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing.
'Only muggles talk of "mind-reading". The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter- or at least, most minds are," He smirked. "It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down their feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can utter falsehoods in his presence without detection.'
Snape makes a point of saying 'The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him.' This 'almost', this affirmation that yes, Voldemort can be fooled, and only by those skilled at Occlumency (Well, lookee here, we know Snape is a natural). Which leads me to think that Snape is showing off in front of Sirius, who he baits because Sirius is staying indoors at number 12, whilst Snape gets his hands dirty with the biggest of the big boys, the Death Eaters. Snape is really saying, I'm hugely important to the Order, and not only that, but I'm also incredibly clever and skilled. Had Dumbledore not trusted Snape completely and his abilities as an Occlumens, he wouldn't have sent him back into the fold, the DEs. Snape is even good enough at Occluemncy that he gives Harry Potter, the Chosen Boy Who Lived, the most important tool in the whole war, lessons.
So Voldemort does not know Snape is still loyal to Albus, because as good as the Dark Lord is at Legilimency, Snape is talented at Occlumency, something we are shown at different times throughout the book. OotP has been criticised for laying too much groundwork, but I disagree: I think we are introduced to just enough to make our brains really tingle. Because, cello, the locket in Grimmauld Place? Horcrux, anyone?
Your thoughts?