This is the interpretation all of us probably came to, if only for a second or two, immediately after reading HBP.
Well, no. :) So I wouldn't say that path is open for Rowling. I don't see it making sense on any level, even when ignoring the previous five books. She couldn't do this without contradicting herself and leaving gaping plotholes. Her being a bad writer is not a logical explanation as she did all the writing herself. She wouldn't have put the argument in the forest in there, clumsily expositioned by Hagrid I might add, if she didn't want it there.
I like to play with the second and third option a bit, because it would be intriguing. He would be an independent sole anti-hero or sole villain, and who doesn't like those? Plus it means that he really fooled Dumbledore and that's ... good for him, I guess, although it of course undermines Dumbledore's wisdom and function in the books.
Realistically option two doesn't work because it makes Snape an ubervillain above Voldemort or completely pointless. So he fools Dumbledore and Voldemort and gets both killed, using Harry, and then what? He laughs manically and tells us how he will rule he world. Dobby stabs him. The End? If he dies before Voldemort, how will we ever learn about his selfish goals? And what for? Evil Snape just doesn't fit into the story.
I still like to believe that the third option is possible, but I think it's mostly wishful thinking. Not wishful thinking because I have a problem with Snape being loyal to Dumbledore, but because it would be nice to have JKR surprising me and everything being a bit different than it seems - to me. I'm pretty convinced that Rowlings attempt at everything seeming different constitutes of making Snape seem evil, though.
So I agree you listed them from least likely to most likely, but I would say his loyalties are pretty much set in stone.
Also, he was a genuine Death Eater out of ambition, loved Lily and changed sides to save her. His patronus is a phoenix now, his boggart is Voldemort killing Harry and him being unable to intervene. He is no animagus. Surprise me JKR, I dare you!
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Well, no. :) So I wouldn't say that path is open for Rowling. I don't see it making sense on any level, even when ignoring the previous five books. She couldn't do this without contradicting herself and leaving gaping plotholes. Her being a bad writer is not a logical explanation as she did all the writing herself. She wouldn't have put the argument in the forest in there, clumsily expositioned by Hagrid I might add, if she didn't want it there.
I like to play with the second and third option a bit, because it would be intriguing. He would be an independent sole anti-hero or sole villain, and who doesn't like those? Plus it means that he really fooled Dumbledore and that's ... good for him, I guess, although it of course undermines Dumbledore's wisdom and function in the books.
Realistically option two doesn't work because it makes Snape an ubervillain above Voldemort or completely pointless. So he fools Dumbledore and Voldemort and gets both killed, using Harry, and then what? He laughs manically and tells us how he will rule he world. Dobby stabs him. The End?
If he dies before Voldemort, how will we ever learn about his selfish goals? And what for?
Evil Snape just doesn't fit into the story.
I still like to believe that the third option is possible, but I think it's mostly wishful thinking. Not wishful thinking because I have a problem with Snape being loyal to Dumbledore, but because it would be nice to have JKR surprising me and everything being a bit different than it seems - to me. I'm pretty convinced that Rowlings attempt at everything seeming different constitutes of making Snape seem evil, though.
So I agree you listed them from least likely to most likely, but I would say his loyalties are pretty much set in stone.
Also, he was a genuine Death Eater out of ambition, loved Lily and changed sides to save her. His patronus is a phoenix now, his boggart is Voldemort killing Harry and him being unable to intervene. He is no animagus. Surprise me JKR, I dare you!