Snape deceived Narcissa and Bellatrix

[fpb]

At least about his dwelling. He does not, as Bellatrix think, live in the house where they met. Page 28: "The place had an air of neglect, as though it were not usually inhabited." A pretty broad hint, especially where the same novel shows us how a wizard of power and experience (such as Horace Slughorn, who taught Snape) can easily take over vacant Muggle homes and make them seem his own. Narcissa was too upset to pay attention, and as for Bellatrix, let's face it, she is not the sharpest knife in the box, is she? As for why he should have deceived the women about his address, I guess we will find out in the next novel.

There is another passage that suggests deception somewhere. We agree that Snape essentially drew the story of the plot from Narcissa and Bellatrix by judicious manipulation, and probably knew nothing of it. When he says that he knew of the plot because he was one of those closest to the Dark Lord's counsel, he is not only pushing his luck, he is contradicting Dumbledore's statement that "You will hear many of his Death Eaters claiming that they are in his confidence, that they alone are close to him, even understand him. They are deluded. Lord Voldemort has never had a friend...." Snape, surely, whatever his position with respect to Dumbledore, is under no such delusion, but is manipulating Narcissa's belief that he is. He even tells her that "if he had not known about the plan, she would have been guilty of great treachery," which is nonsense, since - as Bellatrix was trying to get her to understand - the treachery was there whether or not he knew anything. And Narcissa falls right into it.

Comments

[gunderpants.livejournal.com]

I recommend JKR's latest interview on Mugglenet. I dunno whether this theory will mesh too well with the interview, but it is fascinating nonetheless, and there is apparently 2 hours worth of transcript still to come.

[dreamer-marie.livejournal.com]

I don't agree with you. I think that the place definitely is Snape's house, because he would have had trouble deceiving Wormtail, who would have noticed if they had been house hopping and who, as Snape well knows, cannot be trusted with a secret (and I guess Voldemort put those two together so they can spy on each other). We also have to remember that Snape lives at Hogwarts during school year and that he never bothers about appearences (or else he would have done something about his hair). The place also looks very much like what Harry saw in Snape's memory.
I agree that Snape was most likely deceiving the two sisters when it comes to Draco's task. Of course Voldemort would have told him, he didn't want Snape to start thwarting his pupil because he thinks that he's doing it for himself (and I also think he didn't want to give Sape the opportunity of using the same argument as with Quirrell). How would he have been able to make the Unbreakable Vow if he didn't know what he had to do? He's as deluded as the others when it comes to becoming Voldemort's confidante, but I don't think he is as loyal to him as he claims. I think his ambition is to become the next Dark Lord, and that when Voldemort has helped him get there, he will make sure that Harry vanquishes him (and that's why I think he has never wanted Harry dead). But he made a great mistake in killing Dumbledore, because now he's not safe from Voldemort anymore (and I guess that he makes sure the Death Eaters have noone to turn to for help and protection except him).
Well, anyway, that's my thoughts on the matter. What do you think?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

We do not get to see Wormtail a whole lot. He says very little. How are you to know that he is not in with whatever game Snape is playing?

[dreamer-marie.livejournal.com]

Snape, trusting a known traitor and Marauder? I highly doubt it.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Somehow, the matter of trust does not seem central to these particular people. The only person who seems to trust anyone is Narcissa, and she is probably wrong to do so. I still think that the whole setting at Spinner's End was deceptive, though to what purpose, I do not know.

Incidentally, a couple of days ago you asked me about Jeanne d'Arc. Here is the one known sketch of her from life - the author was hardly a skilful artist, but still left an individual impression.

[dreamer-marie.livejournal.com]

She doesn't look pretty, does she?
Still, thanks. It's really nice of you to send me that picture.
Anyway, about Wormtail and Snape, I guess it's no real use arguing: I know that not a single one of my theories has yet come true.
By the way, can I friend you? I know that we probably disagree on every possible topic, but it's interesting to read the argumentation of someone who disagrees with me and who still has a brain (those people are sufficiently rare for me to treat them OK, and I promise that I will not use your comment board for my personal propaganda). I'm also a typical scientist (meaning I have a thouroughly non-Christian approach to religion, among others). Well, anyway, I hope you don't mind too much. You don't have to friend me back if you don't want to.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Go ahead, and I will probably friend you back. Right now I have less computer time than I would like, but I will have a look at your LJ as soon as I can.

I think you are mistaken in your assessment of the St.Jeanne sketch. If you look at the paintings of the time - especially those from central and northern Europe - you will find that the picture of beauty (e.g. of Eve in paintings of Adam and Eve) has quite a bit in common with that of St.Jeanne here - same hairdo, same high forehead, same weedy build. What I find individual are the large and serious eyes, the evident excess flesh below the chin, and what looks like an enormous bust - unless it is the artist's unsuccessful attempt to render the top part of a suit of armour.

There are plenty of Christian scientists - perhaps you do not meet them because, in France, Christians are rare in any case. Incidentally, it is my view that the model of investigation by falsification described by the greatest philosopher of science, Karl Popper, suits the growth of Catholic doctrine better than any other model. I have written an article on the matter, which I may publish here.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Oh, and also Jeanne's sharp little nose, which dominates the sketch.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Page 28: "The place had an air of neglect, as though it were not usually inhabited."

I think this is simply because Snape spends three-quarters of the year living at Hogwarts, and a good deal of the summer going here and there for the Order/Voldemort/both the Order and Voldemort/neither the Order nor Voldemort/Ticky Box.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

In that case, why - other than for comic relief -did JKR insert the whole "Slughorn moving from home to home" idea?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I don't remember that part, would have to look at it again to know what you're talking about...

[chthonya]

To show that Slughorn has different priorities? He'd rather run between comfortable hidey-holes than make a decision either to join either side or to play the two sides off against each other. And Slughorn cares about his creature comforts more than does Snape.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Which is why Snape's - I insist - temporary accommodation was so much less comfortable than Slughorn's

[(Anonymous)]

Snape's loyalties are declared (Voldemort thinks he's a DE, Order thinks he's theirs).

Slughorn is a Slytherin fence-sitter, not wanting to join the DEs but cautious about too open an association with Dumbledore and thus the Order. Heroics are not his style.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I do not think that answers my point. There are still a million possible reasons why Snape - yes, and Wormtail too - may want to mislead the Black sisters as to his current residence.

[goreism.livejournal.com]

I know she's planned out the entire series beforehand, but I wonder if she trawls fan sites for ideas.

I haven't been on LJ much; I've been gallavanting around India instead, actually.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

She has definitely said that she is likely to rewrite the already-written last chapter. I do think that she makes changes in the original plot, whatever those may be, and that in this book at least she has definitely reacted to fannish concerns by settling the issue of ships.