What iron-clad reason did Dumbledore have for believing Snape was on his side? Maybe he was a good actor and a double agent. Was it just that he loved (or pretended to) Lily or he used legilimency?
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8In Deathly Hallows, Dumbledore witnesses Snape’s doe Patronus; evocative of Lily. I don’t have the quote in front of me, but I think it’s implied that it’s not the first time Dumbledore has seen it. Might that count?– alexwlchanCommented May 6, 2014 at 17:08
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2I came here for a Huey Lewis and the News reference.– DacioCommented May 6, 2014 at 18:36
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I rarely -1. But my reason here is that you have assumptions in your question without evidence.– MöozCommented May 7, 2014 at 1:51
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@Dacio See this comment!– kitcar2000Commented May 7, 2014 at 16:13
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4 Answers
Dumbledore didn't have "iron clad" reason. But he believed in the deep power of the ancient magic of love (with good reason - witness Harry being the ONLY ever survivor of Avada). And he knew the depth of Snape's feelings (after all, Snape came to him on his own to ask to protect Lily)
answered May 6, 2014 at 14:43
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Harry was the only ever survivor of Avada -- twice! (And yes the second time was partially because of love... I think.)– trysisCommented May 6, 2014 at 18:55
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2@trysis - while true, the second time was probably irrelevant to the question since at the time BOTH Snape and Dumbledore were dead. Commented May 6, 2014 at 20:56
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2sorry, I thought you meant the power of love in general not how/when Dumbledore would have seen it.– trysisCommented May 6, 2014 at 21:27
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@trysis Twice? Harry survived Avada Kedavra thrice, iirc. First in Godric's Hollow, then at the graveyard and finally in the Forbidden Forest.– SandunCommented Apr 12, 2021 at 6:39
Dumbledore believed Snape because he saw how devastated he was after having betrayed Lily. At that moment, Snape swears to do anything and everything to get revenge at Voldemort, to defy him.
Maybe Dumbledore additionally used legilimency and saw Snapes true emotions. But there is no canon evidence for that.
Additionally, every time someone noticed someting suspicious about Snape and told Dumbledore, he already knew it because Snape told him himself or he had told Snape to do so (stopping Quirrel, the Unbreakable Vow, pretending to help Malfoy).
answered May 6, 2014 at 14:19
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7Legilimency seems unlikely - I thought Snape was a master of Occlumency. Commented May 6, 2014 at 15:59
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@Donald.McLean I don't know for certain, but the Elder Wand may be of some use against the most gifted Occlumency master. Commented May 6, 2014 at 18:32
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And probably Snape did not use Occlumency with Dumbledore. Commented May 6, 2014 at 18:35
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Yes but Dumbledore is an "accomplished" (or was it "proficient"?) practitioner of Legilimency but I think he was being modest. Also as @DavidWilkins said Dumbledore had the Elder Wand.– trysisCommented May 6, 2014 at 18:54
Adding something more to the answers.
The important thing to remember here is that everyone, including Snape, believed Voldy was dead.
The following excerpt from HP & the Deathly Hallows - chapter Prince's Tale. Conversation between Dumbledore & Snape in Snape's memories
"You know how and why she died. Make sure, it was not in vain. Help me protect Lily's son"
"He does not need protection. The Dark Lord has gone - "
" - The Dark Lord will return, and Harry Potter will be in terrible danger when he does"
Snape loved Lily. That is the Iron Clad truth. IIRC, Snape, after having mentioned the Prophecy to Voldy, pleaded him to let Lily live & only kill Harry & his father.
Snape was not the kind of person to follow Voldy out of fear. Snape was ambitious & looked up to Voldy. Voldy could have yanked Lily away & killed Harry & let her live. But he didnt care. Snape was obviously devastated. And Voldy was gone, so no double agent opportunities were yet presented to him.
When Dumbledore tells him that Voldy will return & the boy, who has Lily's eyes, would be in great danger, Snape has an opportunity to redeem himself, avenge his love & prove his love for Lily more to himself than anyone else
answered May 7, 2014 at 5:19
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1Do you have canon proof that Snape believed that Voldemort was dead? Hagrid didn't (neither did Dumbledore) Commented May 7, 2014 at 10:57
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1@DVK Dumbledore is not included in the everybody bracket as mentioned in the last para of answer. As for others, let me check with the books for specific quotes Commented May 7, 2014 at 11:00
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@DVK found the quote in HP7 Prince's tale. Apparently ambiguous gone but since it is preceded by "Help me protect Lily's Son" followed by "He does not need protection" seems to suggest Snape believed Voldemort was dead & not returning. Proof is contextual. Hagrid had a long monologue in which it is contextually clear that he believed Voldy was alive. Commented May 7, 2014 at 13:45
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First, the fact that Snape provided information which proved to be legit about his master's intent to kill the Potters. Snape betrayed Voldemort - who was then at the height of his power - to trying to save Lily. That alone tells enough about Snape's priorities.
His remorse story was also plausible, considering Severus's friendship with Lily till their 5th year. What kind of bigoted blood supermacist has a muggleborn for best friend for years? A conflicted one, who puts his feelings above his ideology.
Then, after Lily's death, Dumbledore witnesses him falling to pieces. That's a pretty dramatic performance for an usually reticent guy, but sure, it might have been just that, a show to gain Dumbledore's trust. Unlikely, but it was possible. But later Snape proved his words with actions: In Harry's first year Snape protects him and does everything to assist Dumbledore to get rid of his former master. And continues to do so all the following years.
Snape never gave Dumbledore any reason to doubt his motivations, and was very useful and competent. It seems from their dialogues in DH, The Prince's Tale that they had a good 'work relationship' and cautious and secretive Dumbledore, who usually played with his cards close to the chest, and was reluctant to give more than the the essential information, preferring to speak in riddles and giving mere hints, did trust Snape, his conclusions based on observations for years he knew Snape, and so he was fairly open with him.