Deathly Hallows: SPOILERS!

Throughout the entire series of books Snape, more than Dumbledore, or Voldemort has been the biggest mystery to me. The one thing I was certain of was that Snape disliked Harry and never had his best interests at heart. J. K. Rowling in a recent interview on NBC's Today Show Meridith Vieira both reflected my thoughts about Snape and simultaneously shot down my theory about him.

Since I've already written my bit about Snape prior to reading the book, I was curious to see that my thoughts about Snape were justified. This is an exerpt from the interview:

Meridith: Was Snape always intended to be a hero?
J. K. Rowling: Is he a hero? You see, I don't see him as a hero. Really, he's spiteful, he's a bully, all these things are true of Snape, even at the end of this book. Um, but was he brave, yes, immensely.

Greta, Age 8: If Snape didn't love Lily, would he still have protected Harry?
J. K. Rowling: No he definately wouldn't have done. He wouldn't have been remotely interested in what happened to that boy.

I'd figured that he didn't like Harry (genuinely), and the only reason he saved Harry was to repay his debt to James Potter (who saved his life when they were teenagers). What I didn't see was the dynamic between Lily and Severus-- that he felt something akin to love for her. I also didn't see the promise made between Severus and Dumbledore, to kill Dumbledore in the 6th book. While reading Half-Blood Prince, I rationalized Snape killing Dumbledore somehow (I'm still not clear what I was thinking but was sure that it was all legit). After all, Dumbledore trusted Snape.

Later when I had a chance to listen to the book on tape (CD actually) I was more sure than ever that Dumbledore trusted Snape right up until the moment before his death. In that scene, when Harry is immobilized under the invisibility cloak and Snape approaches him, Harry says that he'd never heard fear in Dumbledore's voice before. Having read the 7th book, I now understand that he was pleading with Snape to do the job he'd promised to do, rather than allowing him to die a victim of Fenrir the Werewolf, or Belatrix, or Voldemort himself.

I admit I'm still not okay with asking a friend to kill you. Especially when you know ahead of time that you're going to die whether it be from a curse or some other way. Dumbledore had several options available to him, including going to St. Mungos, or retiring to place where Voldemort would never find him, and dying in peace away from the action. In either of these instances he wouldn't have put Snape in a compromising position.

In any case, it's been a wild ride. Trying to figure Snape out was a challenge, and I guessed wrong, but I at least figured out that Snape probably would have continued to be a Death Eater if Lily hadn't died.

Snape is a Death Eater

On the eve of the release of 7th and final Harry Potter book I wanted to go on record stating with some certainty that Snape is a Death Eater.

My theory is based on the way he treats everyone around him-- with loathing. Snape loves the Dark Arts, and talks about Voldemort with something near reverence. When Harry calls him by his name, Snape tells him to shut up. Snape himself refers to him as "The Dark Lord".

As further proof of Snapes allegiance being with Voldemort, I cite the following:

During his meetings with Harry in which he attempts to teach Harry Legilimancy. Harry asks if Voldemort can read their minds at that moment. Snape tells Harry that he cannot because... "The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance..."

How did Snape know this? Unless he knew Voldemort’s location?

Later, he comments, "You seem to have visited the snakes mind because that is where the Dark Lord was at that particular moment. He was possessing the snake at the time, and so you dreamed you were inside it too."
"How do you know?" said Harry urgently. "Is this just Professor Dumbledore guessing, or...?"
Snape responds, "It is enough that we know."

How did Snape know that the Voldemort was possessing the snakes mind at that moment unless he got this information first hand from Voldemort himself?

Later, Harry, reflecting on his dream about the snake attacking Mr. Weasley, asks what’s in the department of Mysteries?
“What did you say?” Snape asked quietly, and Harry saw with deep satisfaction that Snape was unnerved. “And why would you ask such a thing?”

Why would Snape be ‘unnerved’ that Harry would ask about the Dept. of Mysteries, and dodge the question unless he knew that Voldemort was searching for something in it? And didn’t want Harry to stumble upon the truth?

I believe that this conversation between Harry and Snape is very revealing about Snape's true character, and where his allegiance lay.

In roughly 24 hours we'll know the true story of the fictional character. It should be interesting.

You Have To Exhale Sometime, Kid!

Now for someone really Harry... er... hairy!

Anyone who know's Harry Potter knows hairy Hagrid, the Hogwart's Game Keeper. I've been listening to the books on tape in preparation for the last book in the series... "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and personally, I think the Prophecy that predicts that Harry is going to kill Voldemort is wrong.

My prediction is that Hagrid is going to pop Lord Voldemort like a zit. Hagrid's awesome!