Coward/spoiler thread

Book 6: HP & the Half-Blood Prince Forum

Snape freaked out at being called a coward. Thread open for discussion of his reaction.

Maybe James once called him a Coward, to try and wind him up, and Harry calling him a coward might have brought up the the choldhood memories, or maybe he just doesnt like being called that

I think he was so cheesed off because he did what Dumbledore wanted. He killed him instead of Draco doing it and that took real courage. I think that is why he was so upset.

I think that jackass hated being called a coward because deep inside he did know that he was a coward. He killed Dumbledore when he was weakest and he kept switching to the side that would benefit him the most.

M.

Yea I agree, I think snape knew deep down that he was a coward. And I think he may have felt a twinge of guilt at Killing dumbledore, and giving into it instead of dying himself. Also when he killed dumbledore, dumbledore was completely defenseless and weakened. Snape never would have wanted to face dumbledore full throttle. I think the fact that the death eaters took advantage of dumbledores weakness, and the fact that he was unarmed shows that they really are all cowards.

Or you could say that maybe he felt resentful for being called a coward after all he's sacrificed for the Order... it could go either way as far as I can see. I think I do remember something about James calling him a coward though. I'll have to look around for that bit.

The man obviously had issues, but I still think Dumbledore was right about him. :P

Even if he was mad about being called a coward after all he did for the order, I think he did more damage to it than what he did for it, with the killings of dumbledore and sirius..

Snape didnt contrabute in any way to Sirius' death, Dumbledore said that what snape said to Sirius wouldn't have effected him, he was old enough to let it go over his head. Kretchler did more damage

Snape got angry over being called a coward, because that's what he is. He ran from what he did... and Harry called him on it... and I think that it brings up childhood memories for him too.

Snape is a JERK

Snape is like Voldemort in that he likes to think he is invincible. For Snape, though, it's to the point that he desperately wishes it. Having a cowardly streak is his big weakness and he doesn't like to admit it, even though he knows in his cold little heart that it's true. I'm of the mind that Snape is on Snape's side. He saw no way out of the situation with Bellatrix, so he did the only thing he could to get out alive, knowing full well what the end result would be. At one point in the book, Slughorn said that a Slytherin will always do whatever it takes to save themselves, and Snape's actions were forewarned by that.
There's one point I haven't seen anyone making, though- to perform an Unforgivible Curse, you have to mean it. If you want to do Avada Kedavra on someone, you really have to want to kill them. Remember the thread I started a while back about Ron making one enlightening statement in each book? This book's statement was that 'no one's that good an actor, not even Snape'. He was talking about taking sides, but it reinforces tha fact that you can't do a mind over matter thing and trick yourself into hating someone enough to want to kill them. Snape really did hate Dumbledore. He wasn't doing what Dumbledore wanted and saving Draco's innocence. If Dumbledore had wanted him to do that, he wouldn't have pleaded with him, he would have given him some line of parting wisdom. Snape hated him for believing whatever story he made up. He saw it as a weakness that anyone could be that gullible. (I'm not saying Dumbledore's gullible, I fell for it as much as he did, that's just the way Snape sees it.) He hated the fact that someone as powerful as Dumbledore had a weakness, which reinforces the fact that everyone does, even Snape, as much as he hates to admit it. Snape hated Dumbledore because he saw him as an in-the-flesh projection of Snape having a weakness.
He also showed revulsion when he killed him. That was because Dumbledore was pleading for his life, rather than going down in a way that Snape would see as dignified, once again reiterating the subject of weakness.

Excellent points CD. I think I might have mentioned Snape really wanting to kill Dumbledore but maybe not.

And I think it was Harry that made that statement about Snape, not Ron.

And I agree about the hatred and revulsion. JKR specifically mentions that hatred and revulsion were etched on his face. He also had the same look when Harry confronted him later.

However, I don't think Dumbledore was pleading to Snape to spare him, I think he was pleading to Snape to help him recover from the potion that he had to drink. Dumbledore as we know him was not afraid of death so he would never plead to have his life spared, only to be rejuvenated to fight Voldemort once more.

M.

p.s. Welcome back.

You probably did. I just skimmed over everything and might've missed it.

I'm pretty sure it was Ron. I'll have to flip back through and see if I can find it.

Good point. I hadn't thought of that. Although, if he was pleading for his life, I don't think it would be because he was afraid of dying himself, more that he was afraid for what might happen after Voldemort no longer has to deal with the only one he ever feared, and what might happen to the Order of the Phoenix without his leadership.

Which brings up another question. Who's leading it now? I'm kind of thinking Arthur Weasley.

Thanks. Not quite back yet, just actually got a chance to post at the library. Only 16 more days and I will be though!

I would think that Lupin is most likely to lead the Order now. He is level-headed, smart and has a kind of all-knowingness about him that Dumbledore had. Plus he is perhaps the only person of the Order left who can call Voldemort by his name. He isn't making much headway with the werewolves anyway.

Arthur Weasley is cool but Lupin seems more capable.

M.

It seems like one of them would be the choice. The fact that he's the only member who calls him by his name is a great point. I've always seen him as more of a follower than a leader, but maybe this'll be his time to shine and show his true potential.

Snape would be so upset about a former Marauder leading Voldemort's enemies.

OOO that is going to be a cool thread. I'll post a poll about who will lead the order.

Lupin would be unavailable for one week a month wouldn't he? Still, that would drive Snape crazy!

Drive Snape crazy? There is no way Snape is going to be back in the Order now. It doesn't matter to him anymore.

M.

Oh but it would. He knows that if he had not betrayed Dumbledore, and some other DE killed the man, that he NEVER would have been asked to be the leader.

Snape will always revert to that slimy boy who was bested time after time by the mauraders. THAT is his true weakness.

Snape knows alot about the order, stuff from the meetings, double agents. Now hes just on voldes side theres no telling what he will divulge

Snape may not have been in the loop about everything going on in the Order. He may reveal the members, but he will not be privy to all DD was doing.

Yea, MMcG didnt know what DD was doing, only he and Harry knew about the Horcurxes

Snape won't divulge information unless it makes it better for him to do so at that point and time. Gotta keep a little to himself in case Voldie gets mad at him and he wants to butter him up.

Snape is playing the game for himself. We don't know what kind of arrangement he had with Dumbeldore (if he had an arrangement at all) or what kind of arrangement he has with Voldemort. I think that no matter what side Snape is really on, he's going to do whatever it takes to make sure that he stays alive. That's his number one priorty, probably always has been and will always be.