by Glory Lennon

Created on: January 07, 2009

When dealing with a double agent wouldn't it be prudent never to fully trust him/her? After all the double agent, or spy if you will, by its very definition and application is one that works on both sides, for both sides and only in his own mind does he pick and choose with whom to sympathize fully. At any given moment he can turn and fool half the people. One must be quite the actor to pull this off convincingly. Perhaps his compensation for all this trouble is messing things up for both sides, playing one against the other just for the heck of it, just for kicks. Or perhaps he has his own reasons.

Such is the case with Professor Severus Snape. Whose side is he truly on anyway? He was on one side, suddenly switched, then is back again? Hard to keep track, isn't it? Or is it? Dumbledore trusts Snape implicitly. When you have the trust of none other than the formidable and by all accounts the greatest wizard of all time Albus Dumbledore, you'd think that would be enough to convince others of your intent. Never is though, not with some anyway. Otherwise, Voldemort wouldn't always feel the need to penetrate into Snapes' thoughts with occulmancy, would he?

It must have given Snape unending pride that he could fool both the greatest evil wizard Lord Voldemort and the greatest wizard of all Dumbledore if he so chose. This made Snape very smug indeed to have gained the trust of both wizards. At every opportunity he used it to hold it over the heads of members of both sides. Nifty trick, that one!

He used it to taunt Sirius Black. "Dumbledore trusts me to do something other than clean headquarters, imagine that!"Snape would likely say with such relish in that ever-so-snide voice he often uses.

He also took pains to show Bellatrix Lastrange his superior standing with Lord Voldemort. "He confides in me because I don't let him down. He knows he can trust me, his most loyal and trust-worthy servant and follower," he would boast to her fury. Goodness, but that is rather like having your cake and eating it too, wouldn't you say?

But when you are such a disagreeable character, clearly disliked by both sides and such a slimy little jerk as Snape invariably is, all bets are off. There really is no telling until the very end where his loyalty truly lies. It is therefore wisest to wait and see.

A vile person with vindictiveness bordering on mania, Snape is not one to be easily trusted nor liked nor should he be, especially by Harry Potter. Harry has been victimized by his Potions Master for crimes he never committed. Sins of the father, however, are the rationale. Snape loathed James Potter with all he had in him. Such feelings were hardest for Snape to overcome though not as difficult as his equally strong love for Lily Evans-Potter. There was his struggle to both protect her child and torture as best he could that same child for the sin of being James' son. Poor Harry got it coming and going.

It seems, however, that love will win out as Dumbledore always expected and always would believe. It is up to us to believe in his belief and trust in his trust. So, should any of us really trust Severus Snape? No, not really but we should trust in Dumbledore's trust and trust that JK Rowling knows what she's doing.

Learn more about this author, Glory Lennon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.