But how could Sev's honor or loyalty be invoked in keeping Lupin's/the Marauders' secrets for them?
By psychology, we have a very scared, vulnerable , insecure16-year old standing in front of Dumbledore, a figure of authority, one of, if not the greatest wizard alive. Now he stands there in the headmaster's office, feeling beaten and completely worthless. His enemies have been ready to kill him. He has probably just seen the two main perpetrators leave, Potter strutting smugly, because he has been praised for his heroic act. Someone (Slughorn, Poppy) already might have told him off for sneaking around at night. He's feeling very stupid himself for following Sirius' taunt. Dumbledore is calm and confident. He seems to know everything. His bright blue eyes look right into Severus'. Right into his mind, his heart, his soul. He can see everything, Severus' most secret thoughts, his dreams of revenge, his feelings for Lily, his experiments and researches in the Dark Arts.... I'm pretty sure at some point since he started suspecting Lupin, Severus has looked up anti-werewolf curses, maybe secretly practised them. I don't think he went down the tunnel to attack the werewolf, but he surely has been trying to prepare to be able to protect Lily. He secretly dreams of being her brave hero. Dumbledore is talking about Lupin, the innocent, the kind boy who deserves to be protected against all those prejudice, about Potter's selfless act of bravery that saved his own worthless life. Severus realizes that Potter will not be expelled for sneaking out at night and he is Slytherin enough to know about the wealth and influence of the Black family. He must be starting to fear that he is the one who's going to pay the price. He's used to it, isn't he? They will say that he tried to kill his classmate. Dumbledore says that the events of this night have to be kept secret. Severus expects to be forced into an Unbreakable Vow or any other magic bond. He is much too exhausted and confused to know whether he owes Potter a life debt or not and what this means to him. Is this life debt Dumbledore talks about something that will force him to kind of serve Potter from now on? Will he drop dead, if he ever dares to defy Potter? Dumbledore smiles. He's so understanding, not ordering asking Severus to understand the necessity to protect Lupin. Then Dumbledore stretches out his hand. “Mr Snape, will you give me your word to keep this secret” His word, nothing else? Dumbledore trusts him on his word? His word is the only good thing that truly belongs to Severus, the one thing that is completely under his control. Severus is proud to always keep his word. He believes in a few moral standards, strives to be brave and honest. He always admires those who seem to be naturally good like Lily Evans, like Dumbledore. Dumbledore has seen that in his mind. He has seen something good in him. Severus gives his word to stay silent and Dumbledore seems very pleased. They shake hands as if they might be equals, as if Dumbledore respects him.
Of course, Severus will recover from the non-magic enchantment in the following days, but he will keep his word, because if he breaks it, he loses the last good thing he has, his honour.
Of course, it hasn't happened exactly like this, but it's how Dumbledore works, how he manipulates people and he's good at it. I'm sure he played the same trick with the Marauders. When Sirius and James left his office they both think Dumbledore is the greatest man they ever met and are blindly loyal. Yes, I know they still kept their secret about their Animagus ability, but I doubt they think of it as a criminal act. They really believe that they are just helping a friend.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-08-07 04:07 pm (UTC)By psychology, we have a very scared, vulnerable , insecure16-year old standing in front of Dumbledore, a figure of authority, one of, if not the greatest wizard alive. Now he stands there in the headmaster's office, feeling beaten and completely worthless. His enemies have been ready to kill him. He has probably just seen the two main perpetrators leave, Potter strutting smugly, because he has been praised for his heroic act. Someone (Slughorn, Poppy) already might have told him off for sneaking around at night. He's feeling very stupid himself for following Sirius' taunt.
Dumbledore is calm and confident. He seems to know everything. His bright blue eyes look right into Severus'. Right into his mind, his heart, his soul. He can see everything, Severus' most secret thoughts, his dreams of revenge, his feelings for Lily, his experiments and researches in the Dark Arts....
I'm pretty sure at some point since he started suspecting Lupin, Severus has looked up anti-werewolf curses, maybe secretly practised them. I don't think he went down the tunnel to attack the werewolf, but he surely has been trying to prepare to be able to protect Lily. He secretly dreams of being her brave hero.
Dumbledore is talking about Lupin, the innocent, the kind boy who deserves to be protected against all those prejudice, about Potter's selfless act of bravery that saved his own worthless life. Severus realizes that Potter will not be expelled for sneaking out at night and he is Slytherin enough to know about the wealth and influence of the Black family. He must be starting to fear that he is the one who's going to pay the price. He's used to it, isn't he? They will say that he tried to kill his classmate.
Dumbledore says that the events of this night have to be kept secret. Severus expects to be forced into an Unbreakable Vow or any other magic bond. He is much too exhausted and confused to know whether he owes Potter a life debt or not and what this means to him. Is this life debt Dumbledore talks about something that will force him to kind of serve Potter from now on? Will he drop dead, if he ever dares to defy Potter?
Dumbledore smiles. He's so understanding, not ordering asking Severus to understand the necessity to protect Lupin. Then Dumbledore stretches out his hand.
“Mr Snape, will you give me your word to keep this secret”
His word, nothing else? Dumbledore trusts him on his word? His word is the only good thing that truly belongs to Severus, the one thing that is completely under his control. Severus is proud to always keep his word. He believes in a few moral standards, strives to be brave and honest. He always admires those who seem to be naturally good like Lily Evans, like Dumbledore.
Dumbledore has seen that in his mind. He has seen something good in him. Severus gives his word to stay silent and Dumbledore seems very pleased. They shake hands as if they might be equals, as if Dumbledore respects him.
Of course, Severus will recover from the non-magic enchantment in the following days, but he will keep his word, because if he breaks it, he loses the last good thing he has, his honour.
Of course, it hasn't happened exactly like this, but it's how Dumbledore works, how he manipulates people and he's good at it. I'm sure he played the same trick with the Marauders. When Sirius and James left his office they both think Dumbledore is the greatest man they ever met and are blindly loyal.
Yes, I know they still kept their secret about their Animagus ability, but I doubt they think of it as a criminal act. They really believe that they are just helping a friend.