Snape: Unmoved by Temptation

"Did you not understand what I meant?

Thanks to Dumbledore's protection, I was not thrown into Azkaban!

Do you think he would not have turned against me in hatred if he believed I had murdered his prized student?

But matters were far more complicated than that. Let me remind you: when Potter first entered Hogwarts, many rumors about him were still circulating, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary dark wizard, which was why he had survived the Dark Lord's attack.

Indeed, many of the Dark Lord's former followers believed Potter might become a banner around which we could unite once more.

I admit that when he first stepped into the castle, I was curious. Murdering him never even crossed my mind.

Of course, I soon discovered that he had no extraordinary talent whatsoever.

He had merely relied on luck and on friends more talented than himself to barely escape many predicaments.

He was mediocre to the extreme, yet as smug and irritating as his father.

I tried every means possible to drive him out of Hogwarts. I felt he did not deserve to be there at all. As for killing him, or letting him die before my eyes?

Only a fool would take such a risk, with Dumbledore so close at hand."

"Based on what you have said, we are supposed to believe that Dumbledore never suspected you?"

Bellatrix asked. "He did not know whom you truly served? He still trusted you without reservation?"

"I played my role superbly,"

Snape said. "You overlook one of Dumbledore's greatest weaknesses: he always thinks the best of others.

When I first left the Death Eaters and joined his teaching staff, I fed him a tale of unbearable remorse, and afterward he welcomed me with open arms—though he did his utmost to keep