[DEBATES TOURNAMENT]: Year 11 - Round 2 - Severus Snape: Hero or No Hero?

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Round 2 - Severus Snape: Hero or No Hero?

Welcome to the second round of the Debates Tournament!

For this round we taken on one of the most dividing subjects in the HP fandom. Was Severus Snape truly good/a hero? Or simply a self-serving git with no spine? Say your peace!

Rules:
- Minimum 300 word count in total (not per post)
- Be clear in your POV
- Don't deviate from the subject
- Wether you're For or Against it you may state opposing opinions to counter argue them

Instructions:

- When you're done and ready to move on to another round, and if you're the first one to finish this round, go to the sign-ups thread to request the next round to be opened.

ATTENTION: Unlike other tournaments, your round score won't be static. What this means is, if you decide to go back to one round to counter argue someone's point of view your score will be updated accordingly, that can go either up or down.

Scores:

Minimum word count of 300 words - 12,5 pts
Spelling & Grammar - 12,5 pts
Clear explanation of PoV - 25 pts
Counter arguing - 25 pts
Use of facts and sources to support PoV - 25 pts

HousePoints per Round:


1st Place	600 HP
2nd Place	550 HP
3rd Place	500 HP
4th Place	450 HP
Competing	400 HP

Good luck everyone!

Snape: Never quite what we think

A hotly debated subject in The Harry Potter fandom world is whether or not Snape is a Hero or A Villain. When I hear the name Severus Snape, the phrase or title that comes to mind is 'Double Agent'. Seemingly a bad guy but really a man avenging someone he obviously dearly loved, although from afar, in a very cunning and unexpected way. That says to me that he is a Hero, if not a very sly and cunning one.

We start our story thinking that he is a bad guy. And as the first year at Hogwarts progresses seeming to get worse. As Prof. Quirrell remarks "He does seem the type doesn't he?" when talking to Harry about Snape. We get the impression from Ron that Slytherin house is full of bad eggs. "There's not a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin" he says. Given that shortly after this quote we learn that Snape is the head of that house, strait away you think that he will be a bad guy. Then when we see the things that happen during Harry's first year, like Harry concludes, all of it points to Snape. But then at the end as Harry stumbles on Quirrell trying to steal the Philosophers Stone, we learn that that was not the case and that Snape was trying to stop the bad guy from getting what he wanted. Instantly you look at Snape in a better light, especially as Quirrell continues to explain how Snape repeatedly foils his attempts to get close to the stone. Also in the revelation that it was Snape muttering a counter curse when he could see Harry in danger in his first Quidditch match proving that he is a good guy, even though he doesn't seem it.

Through out the next two years however he seems to slip back to the old view of pain in the bottom bad guy. Putting Malfoy against Potter in the dueling club and trying his hardest to get Sirius Black to the Dementors, even after we learn that Sirius is not guilty of what he was accused of and that he was a good guy. Those of us who back team Sirius cannot say we aren't pleased when Snape fails in his attempt to capture Sirius and are annoyed at his obvious and constant disdain for him. Although this image has always stayed with me from the 3rd film.
[DEBATES TOURNAMENT]: Year 11 - Round 2 - Severus Snape: Hero or No Hero? Is?hNqqU7JUDKP-eUfwpCJlROP8Gb0reD0RGAFiAq_EWu8&height=177

[DEBATES TOURNAMENT]: Year 11 - Round 2 - Severus Snape: Hero or No Hero? Is?hNqqU7JUDKP-eUfwpCJlROP8Gb0reD0RGAFiAq_EWu8&height=177

Even though he was furious with Harry, when the teens are in danger, he instantly jumps to there aid and protects them. I think this goes to show that he is a hero underneath all of the snarkyness and grimness that he portrays. Its easy to tell that from this he knows that Harry is to survive and that if he truly was on the dark side and a villain, why did he not just let the Werewolf maul them and save his Dark Lord the worry of Harry being an obstacle? Horrible to contemplate, but surely you can see my reasoning?

Judgment on Snapes allegiances does become difficult however when Igor Karkaroff is thrown in to the story. Harry sees Igor displaying his 'Dark Mark' for Snape to see saying that Snape 'Knows what it means as well as I'. This does make you think again about former conclusions made about the Potions Master. We them also see Snape's allegiances questioned when we enter the Pensieve for the first time and see Igor quite upset and saying 'It is Lies' when Dumbledor acts in Snape's defense. Also the mere fact that Snape suggests that Harry continue as a Tri-Wizard Champion does make one question whether he is wanting Harry to fail, not thinking he has the necessary know how to make head ways within the competition.

We see the depth of Snape's hatred for Harry when he teaches Harry Occlumency in the 5th year. Revealing the constant barrage of abuse and insults that Snape received from Harry's farther James while he himself attended Hogwarts. Snape claims that Harry has the same traits as James when he comments on how James was 'Exceedingly Arrogant'. It comes to light from these lessons that Snape still holds a lot of resentment for James' treatment of him, sees Harry as an exact double of his Farther and therefore treats him with as much hostility as I guess he would James if he were still alive.

In the sixth year it seems absolute that our thinking of Snape as a bad guy and just a genuinely horrible man when we see him make an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy. Whilst performing the vow Bellatrix Lestrange asks him if he will finish the job the the 'Dark Lord' asks Draco Malfoy to perform if Draco is not able to, he agrees. Even though we do not know what it is yet, we know it cannot be good. Confirmed at the end of the story when Snape kills Albus Dubledore and runs off with the Death Eaters.

Coming to the last story it is revealed that Snape was actually in love with Harry's mother Lilly. Even though it looks like his allegiances are confirmed when he is fully incorporated in Voldamorts inner circle, we see after his death that he turned to Dumbledor for help. Through Harry entering Snape's memories in the pensieve, it shows him how many times Snape sought to protect him, even though he hated him. It is also a startling revelation that Dumbledor asked Severus to kill him instead of Draco, to not blow Snape's cover with Voldamort. All of this information confirming for me that he was a double agent and was ultimately working for the good side, making him a hero.

Your preliminary score is below:

Natalie SS - 75 pts

You can check your overall standings HERE.

You can keep posting for counter arguing but remember it might affect your score both positively or negatively. People who signed up but have not posted yet please do so.

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