Choices

[Weasleyfanforever]

We have been told over and over again how everything in the Harry Potter realm is down to choices. The only real illustration of this mantra was Severus Snape. He served under Lord Voldemort as a Death Eater for at least a couple of years, and upon realizing that his actions helped bring the death of classmates of his, he reverted to the good side, serving Dumbledore as a spy on Voldemort, and being the only character in the series so far that has actually played true to what we have been told over and over again: That it is our choices who make us who we are.

Snape was the prime example, he had led a dark life: He lived in a home where abuse was common, even if only in the verbal form, which is very damaging in it's own right. He didn’t fare much better at school, as he was bullied and tortured. He wasn’t totally innocent though, we now know that he created spells to hurt people, and he wasn’t always bullied just because he was there, he attacked of his own free will as well. After high school he went on to join the Death Eaters, and serve Voldemort.

We all know how the story goes; He went to Dumbledore pleading for a job, and claiming that he had seen the error of his ways, and his goal now was to eradicate the Dark forces that surrounded them all. So, of all the characters, Snape has been the only one that has really showed us that it is down to choices. His home life, how he was treated at school, joining the ranks of the Death eaters, and then choosing to join the good side and Dumbledore were the perfect example of choice reining.

But in one fell swoop, that whole ideology of ‘choices’ was destroyed. Snape had never really come over to the good side, he was pretending all along. He wasn’t the one that proved the case; he was the exception to it. Sure, we had Sirius, but Sirius was only suspected of being bad, he never was a killer; he didn’t have to change his spots. Some might point out that Hagrid would make a good case as well, but I would argue against that. A loving father raised Hagrid, and once his father was gone, he had Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of the times to watch over him. Not until Goblet of Fire was he ever the target of prejudice, so that wasn’t a factor in his childhood either. So how are we supposed to believe that ‘choices’ are what it is all about, when it has been proven to us time and time again that the way you are raised plays a large part of who you become?

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Actually I think choices are still quite important here. Harry for one has made some tough choices. His upbringing wasn't very good, probably right in line with Snapes. But Harry made an early decision to reject the way Dudley and the other Dursleys were, and to do what he thought right. Harry made the choice to be in Gryffindor when the Hat wanted to put him in Slytherin. Harry made the choice to protect the socerers Stone, he could have just "trusted" the traps, (which, by the way would have worked) Harry made the choice to go in to the chamber, and on and on. All of the major charaters have made choices, right and wrong, that have affected them and put them where they are, and made them who they are.

And as far as Snapes choices. . . I'm still not convinced that he made the choice for evil. I believe that his choice was to continue to protect his cover as long as possible, either that or just to save his but! If Snape had refused to make the unbreakable vow, if Belatrix hadn't done him in right there, it would have gotten back to Voldemort who would have taken care of him. In that circumstance, either way, Snape had no choice. It may have even had to be a choice at the end. allow himself to be killed for breaking the vow, and one of the other DE's would certainly have done him in, or do the deed himself (perhaps under DD's insturctions)and not only maintain his cover, but strengthen it at the same time allowing him into more of Voldemort's trust and secrets.

[Alz]

JKR has always been very clear that so much in the Potter series is about choices the characters make ...
There are many occasions when people enter a fork in the road and then they have paths - the choices they make define the character of .. well the characters.
One point I did agree with in the initial post was Snape felt empowered because he always made his choices once he left school - prior to this he was a victim of circumstance - some of which he bought about himself - once again a choice he made ..
When he was confronted with Dumbledore - surrounded by Death Eaters and also a vow he couldnt break -we see an older Snape now having all choice taken away from him and he just has to follow what he was told ...
I think this episode will effect Snape in ways we havent yet come to realise - this very decisive chapter in his life and the path was already chosen - he couldnt change it and just had to do it - and I think that will have a real mental impact on him ...