Harry Potter Book 7 Theories

To me, Snape comes across as a stereotypical lonely child who longs for a father’s love. Although the books never directly say it, we receive hints through Snape’s memories in OoTP that Snape’s muggle father was abusive and neglectful. This would explain why Snape has such a hatred for muggles. After leaving school, Snape sought a place where he could be accepted: by Voldemort’s side. Voldemort didn’t care about Snape, but I believe he was able to use his charm to make Snape feel wanted. This situation gave Snape a father figure that he could latch on to and show loyalty to. After telling Voldemort about the prophecy, I concluded that Snape obeyed Voldemort’s orders to go to Hogwarts as a spy just as a loyal son would do for a father. 

When Snape entered Hogwarts he hated Dumbledore with a passion because Dumbledore was his “father’s” enemy, but after Voldemort’s disappearance Snape needed a new father figure in his life. This was the time in which Snape’s hatred turned into love. The kindness, trust, and respect that Dumbledore showed to Snape opened his eyes and he realized that Voldemort never truly loved him and that Dumbledore did love him. As Snape’s love began to grow, Snape began to see Dumbledore as his “true” father. Snape then devoted his life to protecting and obeying his new father. However, just as most people who long for a father and finally find one, he became overly protective and started to believe that Dumbledore belonged only to him. Enter Harry Potter. Snape became jealous of Harry because Dumbledore seemed to pay more attention to Harry than him. Dumbledore also tended to side with Harry whenever it was a choice between Harry and Snape. 

 I realized Snape was jealous of Harry when I got to GOF on page 679, “Snape followed him, looking into the Foe-Glass, where his own face was still visible, glaring into the room.” For the longest time I didn’t pay this any attention, until I realized that the Foe-Glass doesn’t show you your own reflection. The glass shows a foggy cloud with hidden faces in it. The faces of your enemies will become clearer the closer they are to you. Since Snape’s face was in the Foe-Glass I realized that he was his own worst enemy, or should I say, the jealousy within him was his worst enemy. 

Dumbledore then made a grave mistake, he told Snape to go back to Voldemort, the only other person that Snape had considered a father-figure. This was when Snape started to change. His jealousy for Harry, his resentment while thinking that Dumbledore loved Harry more than him, and Voldemort being able to charm Snape and pretend to be “fatherly” again all came pouring out of him. Snape then betrayed Dumbledore out of ENVY and in spite of his own feelings. Snape had a look of “revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face” (HBP, pg 595). This was an all inclusive hatred in Snape’s face. He was remembering all of the bad things that he had faced in his life: having a muggle father who didn’t love him and abused him, being an outcast at school, meeting Voldemort and finding out that Voldemort didn’t love him, falling in love with Dumbledore and then letting his envy shut his eyes to that love, hatred of Harry, hatred of himself, and a false sense of hatred for Dumbledore. Snape was in a state of momentary insanity. His envy had made him forget that he loved Dumbledore and he killed Dumbledore believing that Dumbledore had betrayed him and should die. 

I believe that Snape will be completely grief-stricken in book 7 because he will finally come to his senses. He will realize how childish he had been to believe that Dumbledore didn’t love him and will seek penance. How he will seek penance is up for discussion. 

-Theory by Michael Ocheskey 

I don’t believe the true battle will be between Voldemort and Harry. It will be between Harry and Snape. Snape is the one person who knows all the secrets from both sides, which makes him very powerful. His true powers are yet to be revealed. He also knows Voldemort’s, Harry’s, and Dumbledore’s weaknesses. He delights in the suffering of others. His hate for Harry is thorough. He has no friends. He needs no one. He alone is the smartest person in the wizarding world…so he thinks. Who’s to say he hasn’t found a better way to be “All Powerful” without the use of Horcruxes. Or, perhaps created Horcruxes of his own. For one who has been rejected by the popular or elite, never seen as a gifted or talented person that he is, revenge upon all those who dare to put their trust in a “stupid cocky” child will be sweeter than the taste of a pumpkin pasty.  -Theory by Trudy Schrader 

The Order doesn’t have to know if Snape is fighting Voldemort in order for Snape to still be effective. If Snape is still fighting Voldemort, it’s in a different way. He can’t spy because he has no one to report to; no one in the Order trusts him. As has been pointed out, it may be best if no one in the Order trusts him–that way he’s still safe even if Voldemort captures a member of the Order and uses legilimency on them. 

If Snape is still fighting Voldemort, the only one that has to know this is him. He’s now a time bomb waiting to go off. He’s a sleeper cell who will make his true loyalties known at the last possible moment by exposing one of Voldemort’s major vulnerabilities. Before that he might be able to discretely muck up some of the DE’s plans. 

There are a lot of great plot options with this storyline. Perhaps he can plant clues for Harry that will lead him to the Horcruxes. Only, Harry will find out towards the end and won’t trust the clues anymore because of the clue-giver, and he will have to discover again that Snape really is on his side. 

My main point is, the fact that no one in the Order trusts Snape right now does not provide evidence that Snape turned on Dumbledore, until we know more information. 

- Written by forums member Albus-wan. 

I know that Dumbledore can be wrong and that he is eternally optimistic about people’s character, but we’ve never been given the complete explanation for Dumbledore’s trust in Snape. If Dumbledore is so overly-optimistic about people’s character, why does he not trust Fudge or Scrimgeour? I believe that JKR could not tell us the real reason for Dumbledore’s trust because that trust is deserved, and when Snape finally shows his true colors, the reason for Dumbledore’s trust will also be revealed. 

- Written by forums member Albus-wan. 

 Cshelbythec has a different idea about why Dumbledore might trust Snape. 

Could it be possible that Dumbledore’s unwavering trust in Snape is the result of an unbreakable vow? When Dumbledore took Snape in, he [Snape] could have made an unbreakable vow never to truly return to Voldemort or betray Dumbledore. In doing so Snape would die if he was to break the vow and, therefore, Dumbledore would be able to trust Snape. 

Theory by Cshelbythec 

I have a strong suspicion that Snape is neither wholly evil nor wholly good. He is, in fact, a true Slytherin. 

Sirius makes a comment in Chapter 14 (”Percy and Padfoot”) of Order of the Phoenix that really stands out to me. He says (in reference to Umbridge) that “the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters.” I think there are “middle of the road” people that ride the fence and wait to see who the victor will be. When it comes to Snape, I think he is loyal to both Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. He is one of the most conniving, manipulative, and formidable wizards we have encountered. I believe Snape acts as a catalyst. He feeds Dumbledore information. He feeds Lord Voldemort information, and all the while he is protecting his own neck. He is not the hero Sirius or Lupin is, by any means. But he is necessary; where would either of the groups be without him? 

- Written by forums member Snapelover. 

I’ve always thought that whatever side triumphed, or looked to triumph, Snape would be on that side. That’s why he’s put himself in the spy position so willingly; he controls the entire war during OotP and probably during HBP, too. 

Information is paramount in any battle situation, especially one like we see in OotP. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much information on the war in HBP other than Voldemort’s mass killings, so it’s impossible to tell whether Snape is still running the show. But I think it’s safe to say that he had a big part in it. 

Snape controls who knows what; he tells Voldemort some of what the Order is doing, but not all. Likewise, nothing can convince me that he’s totally honest with Dumbledore and the Order in his reports. 

He wants the status quo to stay the same, namely: Severus Snape in charge. He wants to be able to rest assured that he can’t be surprised. 

Under the circumstances, Snape does what is best for Snape. He is always on his own team; jumping back and forth, waiting for the right moment to show his true colors while fooling everyone into thinking he is on their team. 

Also, he’s kept up this charade for 17 years, making Dumbledore think he is reformed while keeping Lucius and the other Death Eaters, who are still out, thinking he’s just buying time, like them. 

You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. 

The longer Snape waits, and the more violent and heated the confrontations between the two sides become, the more difficult it is to maintain his duplicity. 

He becomes in danger of having both sides’ trust in him slip away simultaneously, leaving him branded a spy in both camps. 

- Written by forums moderator Quality Quidditch Supplies. 

Traz-ak had a comment along these lines as well. They wrote, “Personally, I believe — and have since I read the book — that Snape is evil. Not really EVIL, precisely, you understand. Like I said, I think he could be redeemed (or even prove not to be guilty at all; though I’m not inclined to think that way at the moment). I just like to use the word ‘evil’ to express what I do believe were not good intentions. I believe this for a number of reasons. My strongest reason (to me anyway) is that Snape is a Slytherin, and that the Sorting Hat is always right (according to JKR herself), and if that is true, then I feel that it means that Snape’s strongest characteristic influences will always end up being that he is power-hungry and out for himself. To me, this leans the debate more to the side of Snape having chose Voldemort. There are some fairly good arguments to this theory, but since I like it so well, I’m hardly going to present them myself just to poke holes in my own ideas.” 

In a 1999 interview with radio program “The Connection,” the following was said: 

Not JKR: There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
JKR: He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can’t because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I’m slightly stunned that you’ve said that and you’ll find out why I’m so stunned if you read Book 7. That’s all I’m going to say. 

Some Snape fans have interpreted this as meaning that Snape is good and that the reasons for him killing Dumbledore will come to light in book seven - a valid theory. Forums member bobotuber_pus wrote, “It means that either she was stunned that somebody thought about that as a real thing in books (and it suits me), or that somebody could think that Snape wants redemption, as he’s entirely evil.” 

Forums moderator Dana_Scully - one of the most prominent Snape backers on VTM - said (in reference to the above quote), “Snape will redeem himself in Harry’s eyes, I’ve no doubt about that now, and I’m positive that Dumbledore had all this already worked out. Snape didn’t want to go through with it, but he did what he had to in the end.” 

Traz-ak interprets the quote differently, however. They wrote, “I’m going to have to say that I don’t find that quote entirely convincing, Scully… For one thing, the actual phrasing ‘redemptive pattern’ wasn’t exactly JKR’s, was it? Her response was, as usual, a little more ambiguous. I can see how it gives you hope, but I’m far from convinced that it absolves Snape of all guilt. In fact, if anything, it kind of makes me more think that no matter how terrible Snape may get, even if he did kill Dumbledore with nothing but evil intentions, then there’s always a chance at redemption.” 

How will Harry defeat Voldemort? At the end of HBP, while running from Hogwarts, I believe Snape (who is still “good” in my opinion) is trying to tell Harry what he will need to do to defeat Voldemort. Here is where some of my theory lies: 

First, when Harry is trying to stop Snape and Malfoy from getting away, Snape would not allow anyone to kill Harry, saying that he was Voldemort’s. 

Second, he would not hurt Harry during the battle, but would only block the attacks coming from him while making strange comments. Could he have been instructing Harry on what he needed to do to kill Voldemort? 

1) Page 603…”Blocked again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!” 

Snape had been teaching Harry Occlumency the previous year, which would allow him to block out Voldemort. This year he was teaching Harry how to cast nonverbal spells. “…Until you learn to keep your mouth shut and mind closed…” This makes it sound like he wants Harry to practice both Occlumency and nonverbal spells. 

2) Page 602…”No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter! You haven’t got the nerve or the ability - ” 

Again, this could be taken as Snape guiding him to practice Unforgivable Curses, so that he will have the ability and the nerve to use these against Voldemort. 

3) This one might be a little bit of a stretch, but on page 603 again, Snape says, “Coward, did you call me, Potter? Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?” 

Well, obviously, Harry would never consider his father anything but a hero and certainly NOT a coward. Could Snape be trying to drop a hint that he will need friends to help him defeat Voldemort? Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny certainly make four. Also, it appears there are still four Horcruxes left… another reference to the number four from Snape perhaps? Maybe Snape is implying that he will need his friends so that the four of them can destroy the Horcruxes? 

- Written by forums member Suvorov. 

Remember that throughout HBP, Slughorn keeps referring to his little clubs that he had going on when he used to be a teacher at Hogwarts, and several times he mentions not only how good Snape was, but also how good Lily was. I think it’s reasonable to conclude that Snape and Lily must have been present in some of these meetings together. Whether the rest of the Marauders were is up for debate, but I personally think it’s unlikely, being the trouble-makers they were. It’s possible that James might have been, being a Quidditch captain, but anyway…the point is that at several times in HBP, we have Lily and Snape being considered together. I think that it’s very likely, during those times, when Snape developed feelings - very strong feelings - for Lily.
In ‘The Seer Overheard’, Harry is, quite rightly, very angry and finding out the truth about the Prophecy and Snape’s hand in Voldemort finding out about it. Dumbledore allows him to vent and then says…
QUOTE
[…] ‘Professor Snape made a terrible mistake. […] But he did not know - he had no possible way of knowing - which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onwards, or the parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew, that they were your mother and father -’
[…]
‘He hated my dad like he hated Sirius! Haven’t you noticed, Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?’
‘You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned -’
[…]
‘…how can you be sure Snape’s on our side?’
Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make his mind up about something. At last he said, ‘I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.’
Notice here what Dumbledore is not saying, just as much as what he is saying. Even Harry doesn’t say that Snape hated his parents - just James. And Snape had ever reason to hate James. But look at the bits I’ve bolded…he had no way of knowing which parents…Harry cuts him off at very convenient points in the conversation. Dumbledore, at least to me, is saying in subtext that the reason Snape regrets it is because he had no idea that Lily would have been hurt by his actions. Someone he loved died because of something he did…hasn’t that always been the theory all along? It was a motive for Snape’s actions long before HBP was published - that someone he loved was killed, what other strong motive would there be in turning someone from Voldemort? We just never figured on it being Lily.
– Written by forums member Michelle Dessler

Snape in love? In an interview with JK Rowling, a kid asked if Snape would fall in love. Rowling appeared to have started to say ‘yes’, but then stopped. She said she was extremely stunned at that question, and that we would find out why in book seven. I have a suspicion that it might be Lilly Potter!
-Submitted by Emma

Carol also agrees that Snape may have had feelings for Lily and speculates that those feelings may have a lot to do with the way he treats Harry.
Facts in evidence, all from the books or listed in Madam Scoop’s as coming from JKR:
1) It is important that Harry has Lily’s eyes.
2) DD says that Snape regretted giving the information about the prophecy to Voldy when he learned what Voldy did with that information.
3) As noted by others, Rowling is cagey on the issue of if Snape has ever loved or been loved, though she does say that James was not the only one who had romantic feelings for Lily.  When she was asked if Snape loved her, she dodged the question.

4) When Harry and DD have the conversation in DD’s office just before they go for the Horcrux, there is, as others here have noted, a GLARING omission. DD says something like “Professor Snape didn’t know that Voldy would interpret the information of the prophecy in a way that would lead him to attack your parents or you.” And Harry responds with “But Snape HATED my father”. Silence on the issue of how he felt about Lily.
So, what was DD’s ironclad reason for believing Snape turned away from Voldemort? I think it was love for Lily and guilt over her death.
Snape has saved Potter several times. Why? He knows Lily died to save Harry and it eases his guilt to do so, even though he hates Harry. Rowling has said that the people who made the Azkaban film put into it something that wasn’t in the books that is a clue.  Could it be the scene of Snape standing protectively between the trio and the werewolf Lupin? When he escaped from Hogwarts in book six, why didn’t Snape stun Harry and mobilicorpus him out of there and into the hands of Voldemort? Snape could easily have done it.
We learned in HBP that the Patronus can change under great stress, as Tonks’s did. Rowling has said Snape’s Patronus would give too much away. Does it reveal his love of Lily?  
In the chapter on ‘Snape’s worst memory,’ we see that Lily seems not to be interested in James, but we all know she ends up with him. It’s not at all far-fetched to think that a 15-year-old Snape being tormented by the Marauders would want to hide from them his interest in Lily and so call her a ‘mudblood.’
When Snape looks into Harry’s face, he sees Lily’s eyes and loathes himself all over again for his own part in her death.
Love is the power that Voldemort knows not and that it is stronger than any power he has. Love lost him one of his most powerful servants to Dumbledore’s. I believe he is still there