The Double Negative Theory

Discussion for The Double Negative Theory (http://www.mugglenet.com/editorials/editorials/edit-tkahle01.shtml) by T.E. Kahle.

Eh, couldn't find much new or enthralling in the editorial. I don't think there's a reason to convince anyone that Snape is not completely pro-Voldy and anti-Harry/Dumbledore. It has been editorialized by others so much.
And we all know Dumbledore is dead...
Well-written, but I'd say about a year and a half too late.

A well written and thought out editorial on a topic where other editorials are often less so. I liked how you made the obvious yet much overlooked deduction that Peter was propably stationed at Spinner's end to spy on Snape. I also completely agree with you when you say that there has to be a better reason why Dumbledore trusts Snape which Dumbledore didn't tell us. The one problem I had with your editorial is that you left it at that. You didn't for instance, provide us with an original guess as to what that better reason might be

I see three things that I'm sure of:

A) Snape has put himself at risk to protect Harry.
B) Snape hated James and hates Harry
C) Dumbledore trusts Snape for reasons he cannot share with Harry

I see three things I feel pretty sure of:

D) Snape cared about the esteem of Lily Potter
E) Snape has tried to get Harry out of Hogwarts to protect him (much as Dobby tried to protect Harry)
F) Snape hates Neville Longbottom at least as much as he hates Harry

My current speculation is that at some point Snape was working for Voldemort. Either before or after, Snape made the Unbreakable Vow for Lily to protect Harry. Then he learns that he has put Lily and Harry at risk, and bares the top five or six layers of his onion soul to Albus, looking for a way to save himself from Harry's death.

This puts him on Dumbledore's side, up to the point where Dumbledore wants Harry to walk into danger. It does not require that he like Sirius, or even try to protect Sirius. In fact, he can still try to kill Sirius if he wants. It does not require him to like Neville; in fact he may hate Neville because he thought that Neville would be the chosen one and not Harry.

It seems to fit, but it's short on proof.

I see three things that I'm sure of:

A) Snape has put himself at risk to protect Harry.
B) Snape hated James and hates Harry
C) Dumbledore trusts Snape for reasons he cannot share with Harry

I see three things I feel pretty sure of:

D) Snape cared about the esteem of Lily Potter
E) Snape has tried to get Harry out of Hogwarts to protect him (much as Dobby tried to protect Harry)
F) Snape hates Neville Longbottom at least as much as he hates Harry

My current speculation is that at some point Snape was working for Voldemort. Either before or after, Snape made the Unbreakable Vow for Lily to protect Harry. Then he learns that he has put Lily and Harry at risk, and bares the top five or six layers of his onion soul to Albus, looking for a way to save himself from Harry's death.

This puts him on Dumbledore's side, up to the point where Dumbledore wants Harry to walk into danger. It does not require that he like Sirius, or even try to protect Sirius. In fact, he can still try to kill Sirius if he wants. It does not require him to like Neville; in fact he may hate Neville because he thought that Neville would be the chosen one and not Harry.

It seems to fit, but it's short on proof.

Interesting. In the infamous JKR interview with Mugglenet/Leaky she is asked if there was anyone else present the night at Godric's Hollow. She said NO COMMENT. Maybe Snape was there, in a last ditch attempt to save Harry and fulfill the UV. Who knows? Interesting though.

Very interesting editorial and very interesting approach to organizing some of the data. The way you put it together supports the "Snape is good" theory, which is as good a way as any to characterize the matter simplistically.

Less simply, Snape is both good and evil, like all of us. He is primarily a true Slytherin and watches out for himself first and foremost. If a little good happens on the way, that's OK, but not essential. He got into this mess by his own doing, trying to cover himself. If it came to a choice between his life and Harry's, I think he'd opt for his own. If the unbreakable vow theory is true (Snape took an unbreakable vow with Lily or Dumbledore to protect Harry), then his life and Harry's are tied together-- if Harry goes, so does he (but if he goes, Harry could survive).

Good work, TE. Again, thanks.

In your editorial, you state the following: "Snape knew about the prophecy, and knew that Harry had been marked as the one who must be killed for the Dark Lord to reign supreme." I could easily be mistaken, but it's been my understanding that while Snape was indeed the person who overheard Trelawney when she uttered the prophecy to Dumbledore the night she interviewed for the Divination teaching position, the fact is that Snape only heard the FIRST part of the prophecy - "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES...BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES..." At the time the prophecy was made, Snape (and thus Voldemort) did not know what the rest of the prophecy was ("...AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT...AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES...THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES."). According to what you wrote in your editorial, Snape has somehow managed to learn everything about the prophecy at some point since Trelawney made it. How and when did that happen? I seem to recall Dumbledore telling Harry that they were the only people who were aware of the entire "contents" of the propehcy. Trelawney made the prophecy, but has no apparent memory of having done so; Voldemort desperately wanted to hear the record of the prophecy (kept at the Ministry of Magic), but that never happend; Dumbledore told Harry what the prophecy predicted, and he indicated that he'd never divulged that information to anyone else; and Harry certainly didn't share the details of the prophecy with Snape. So how is it that you've concluded that "Snape knew about the prophecy and knew that Harry had been marked as the one who must be killed for the Dark Lord to reign supreme"?

Overall, I thought your editorial was fine but, in a way, unfinished. Some of the conclusions you've drawn - the likely possibility that there is much more to Dumbledore's reason(s) for trusting Snape than we know, for example - are well stated, but you offer little or no support for them. Also, once you've picked up the proverbial ball (the conclusions you've drawn), you don't run with it and give us your own ideas regarding said conclusions. For example, what do you think the unknown reason(s) for Dumbledore trusting Snape might be? To me, it seems like the potential was there for this editorial to be much more than the run-of-the-mill piece that it is.

In your editorial, you state the following: "Snape knew about the prophecy, and knew that Harry had been marked as the one who must be killed for the Dark Lord to reign supreme." I could easily be mistaken, but it's been my understanding that while Snape was indeed the person who overheard Trelawney when she uttered the prophecy to Dumbledore the night she interviewed for the Divination teaching position, the fact is that Snape only heard the FIRST part of the prophecy - "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES...BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES..." At the time the prophecy was made, Snape (and thus Voldemort) did not know what the rest of the prophecy was ("...AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT...AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES...THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES."). According to what you wrote in your editorial, Snape has somehow managed to learn everything about the prophecy at some point since Trelawney made it. How and when did that happen? I seem to recall Dumbledore telling Harry that they were the only people who were aware of the entire "contents" of the propehcy. Trelawney made the prophecy, but has no apparent memory of having done so; Voldemort desperately wanted to hear the record of the prophecy (kept at the Ministry of Magic), but that never happend; Dumbledore told Harry what the prophecy predicted, and he indicated that he'd never divulged that information to anyone else; and Harry certainly didn't share the details of the prophecy with Snape. So how is it that you've concluded that "Snape knew about the prophecy and knew that Harry had been marked as the one who must be killed for the Dark Lord to reign supreme"?



He got the idea that Snape heard the whole prophecy from other editorials written on this site. It seems plain to me also that Snape heard the entire prophecy, although Dumbledore does not ever admit it. If Trelany said she felt strange and then she saw Snape being thrown out of the Inn, that means either she had not begun the prophecy before he was thrown out, which isn't true, or she finished it and Snape heard it all and then she saw him after it was over. She could not have witnessed Snape being thrown out in the middle of her trance and remembered it as she clearly stated she did.

I thought overall it was a good editorial. Not very many editorials claim that Snape is totally evil because there is no canon to support the Snape is completely bad theory. Good job.

I agree with you that the only way to judge Snape's loyalty is to judge what he doesn't do. I think JKR wrote it that way on purpose.

The thing that convinced me of Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore was when Dumbledore said that it was only because Snape helped him that the Ring Curse didn't kill him. It would have been easy for Snape to make the potion badly and let Dumbledore die. Voldemort at this point wants Dumbledore dead. Draco had not yet been given the mission (Narcissa visits Snape immediately after he has). Snape would have an excellent excuse for the Order - he tried to keep Dumbledore alive, the curse was just too powerful, so he could still play spy if he wanted to. If Snape were really loyal to Voldemort, he would have let Dumbledore die. Since he didn't let Dumbledore die, Snape must be loyal to Dumbledore.

I like the point of noting what a character has NOT done as important as what they have done in determining their loyalties. This type of analysis could be placed on many of the characters in the series. If this series is truly about doing what is right vs. what it easy, Snape surely has taken the hard route no matter where his loyalties lie.

I enjoyed reading your editorial. You do have a good point. This look at characters' loyalties by their actions or lack thereof is very thought provoking. As Indy_Racer stated, Snape does indeed have a tough road ahead in Deathly Hallows.

What does it mean that Snape heard only the first part of the prophecy? It's in canon (HBP p. 545, US) that the barkeeper apprehended Snape, barged into the room, and interrupted the prophecy. And that's the point when Trelawney came out of her trance.

The important and hidden issue is when Snape started hearing the prophecy. I submit that he started hearing it not at the very beginning, but when Trelawney started to repeat it and was only able to speak the first part. That is how Dumbledore could hear the entire prophecy (once) and then be interrupted after hearing just the first part repeated and have Snape brought into the room to face the consequences of eavesdropping.

the fact is that Snape only heard the FIRST part of the prophecy - [First part] "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES...BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES..." At the time the prophecy was made, Snape (and thus Voldemort) did not know what the rest of the prophecy was ([second part) "...AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT...AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES...[First part repeated and overheard by Snape] THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES.").

At least that's my theory.

Another occaison where Snape's inaction seems instructive may be in OoP.
The Deatheaters want Harry to go to th Dept. of Mysteries.
The Order doesn't.
Snape knows from Harry's coded message where Harry will go, given the opportunity.
The larger a headstart Harry would have on the Order, the better for the Deatheaters.
Snape leaves Harry in Umbridge's clutches, and warns the Order.
With all the disruptions going on in the school, it is hard to believe he could not have freed Harry without giving himself away. He certainly wasn't planning on Hagrid's brother helping Voldemort's plan along.

Finally, Snape, in Flight of the Prince, fails to truly gloat. Harry thinks Snape tricked Dumbledore with false concern for the Potters. Given the chance to brag about tricking Dumbledore by feigning concern for Harry's "(pejorative term of your choice)" parents, he instead refers to a memory which we had been lead to believe was his worst. Not insulting Harry's parents when he has a chance, and only ever really insulting Harry's father are both significant acts of ommision for Snape.

This was a very a good editorial

"It is his choice to act that gives him away."

This, for me, settles the argument. Also, at the end of HPB, as snape and malfoy are about to make thier escape, snape shouts at the other death eaters not to kill Harry. He claims the reason to be harry is intended for Voldemort, but snape just seemed a little to eager to stop them...

I really liked this editorial. It puts everything into a perspective, especially where Voldemort's trust in Snape actually lies. I'm pretty sure, based on instinct, that Snape is actually a good guy. But poor Snape, he's almost guaranteed the axe for killing Dumbledore. But I really think that in DH, Snape will redeem himself. It's been made obvious that Snape is really powerful, cunning and important. Harry, whether he wants to admit it or not, needs him. I liked this editorial so much because it showed what a great character Snape is through his actions and inactions throughout the series. Although he isn't my favorite (that's reserved for Harry), Snape is certainly the deepest inflective character of recent literature.

good thinking on the poa bit - if he wanted him dead, he could have left him for sirius

I really liked this editorial for many reasons. The arguments for Dumbledore's death were well written and the point that characters' inactions are as important as their actions in well-taken.

My only question is about Wormtail having no reason to protect (is that the word used?) Harry. We really can't forget that Peter Pettigrew owes Harry his life, can we?

Thanks for giving me something interesting to read this morning!

I see three things that I'm sure of:

A) Snape has put himself at risk to protect Harry.
B) Snape hated James and hates Harry
C) Dumbledore trusts Snape for reasons he cannot share with Harry

I see three things I feel pretty sure of:

D) Snape cared about the esteem of Lily Potter
E) Snape has tried to get Harry out of Hogwarts to protect him (much as Dobby tried to protect Harry)
F) Snape hates Neville Longbottom at least as much as he hates Harry


Just to prove that Snape remains the most easily fought over character :lol: I'm going to disagree with B. Yes, Snape hated James. There may have been some other feelings that got mixed in on the way, but hate seems to be the dominant theme with everything else subordinant to it.

But I don't think Snape hates Harry.

I think Harry brings out a horde of emotions for Snape. Worse, for Snape, his way of dealing with complex emotions is to ignore them and tell himself he's being logical and unemotional.

Anger, frustration, bad memories, etc.

But, at the same time, I think he sees Harry and sees Lily's son. Oh, I'm pretty sure he ignores the eyes as much as he can. I'm pretty sure he's convinced himself there's nothing of Lily's personality in Harry.

But, whatever Lily was or wasn't to Snape, there's a debt there. The only thing he can do for Lily is watch out for her son.

And this is going on in him just as loudly as all the anti-James stuff and at the same time

Snape also, IMHO, has all the protective instincts of a mother grizzly in overdrive. Protective mother grizzlies are noted for a lot of roaring.

Yes, it's dysfunctional (or it is in a human, not a grizzly). I could go on for pages about the dysfunctionalness of it all. But it's him.

jolly good editorial but I agree with this guy when he says
I also completely agree with you when you say that there has to be a better reason why Dumbledore trusts Snape which Dumbledore didn't tell us. The one problem I had with your editorial is that you left it at that. You didn't for instance, provide us with an original guess as to what that better reason might be

You shoulda put that but still very good :)

I think you made a very interesting argument -- well, not really an argument, but you certainly opened the doors to interpretation. You didn't over-elaborate, which I think is a real problem with most editorials. Outlandish theories and wild grasps in the dark don't do half as good as articles like this one does. I really enjoyed it. thanks!

Well-written editorial.

I agree with Ellen that Snape doesn't hate Harry. He knows that he can go on all he wants saying that Harry should be expelled and that Dumbledore isn't going to do it. He could hardly treat Harry the way he does Draco and expect the DE parents of his Slytherins and Voldemort himself to believe that he's loyal to the Dark Lord.

Sunsets03, why couldn't Trelawney have been going into her trance rather than coming out of it when she saw Snape and Aberforth? Since she doesn't know that she gave a Prophecy, she certainly can't provide information on where she was in that process when she saw them. If she saw them just as she started, that explains how Snape could have heard only the first part.

Can anyone shed any light on why Snape did not report Quirell to Dumbledore and get him fired when Q cursed the broom, instead of just muttering a counter-curse and letting him stay at Hogwarts? Yes, I know it kept the "red herring" in the story until the end but Snape could have done a better job of protecting Harry on that occasion.
My personal view is that DD trusted Snape because of Snape's regret over Voldy's interpretation of the prophecy but I do not think that this directly refers to the deaths of the Potters. I hope the author of this editorial is wrong and we WILL find out Snape's real regret in book 7.
I'm wondering if we will also find out something else about Snape's mother... or wife?

I believe they wanted to trap Voldemort/Quirell in the cave, that's all. They would remain for ever there.

I think Snape does sort of hate Harry. Some people have a hard time getting over things, and Snape seems like one of them. I think to some extent he can only see Harry through the filter of how his father acted. Snape is clearly unprofessional and cruel.

At the same time, I can't help but wonder if he's cultivated this hatred of Harry to make his loyalty to Voldemort seem more genuine. It would definitely help if, through the barriers of half truths and lies he has put up Voldemort sees his genuine dislike and hatred of Harry.

Interesting theory, I think it has a lot of truth to it (though I did groan when I read the title).

I'm surprised the idea that Wormtail is there to watch Snape (with the bonus that Snape hates the Marauders and therefore would probably underestimate him) seems so looked over.

Three Cheers!
Absolutely brilliant!

Awesome article. I really hope Dumbledore had a better reason for trusting Snape, and I hope we can actually find out what that was... Anyway, I enjoyed reading this, great work!

I enjoyed reading this article, and was particularly impressed by the way this philosophy can be used to examine any character, idea, etc. It's a pretty powerful tool.

Well done.

Compelling and well-written though this editorial is, it has a major flaw. It fails to account for the possibility that Snape is entirely self-interested, playing off both Voldemort and Dumbledore, and is loyal to neither of them. He didn't not let Harry die in all those instances because he was particularly loyal to Dumbledore or had any sense of duty, but because Dumbledore expected the staff at Hogwarts to be on the lookout for Harry and the Philosopher's stone, and to fail to do so would have had negative consequences for Snape. He didn't kill Harry in Half-Blood Prince because he doesn't want Voldemort to be unopposed, he needs to have a weakness to exploit for his own ends. That's a perfectly plausible, and in my opinion the most likely, explaination, and one that was totally overlooked.

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