Han älskade Dark Arts och hamnade i fel folkmassa.
Sirius påminnelser om Snape som skolpojke bekräftar att han var besatt av Dark Magic. Detta var grunden för hans association med Death Eaters.
"Snape’s always been fascinated by the Dark Arts, he was famous for it at school. Slimy, oily, greasy-haired kid, he was,” Sirius added, and Harry and Ron grinned at each other. “Snape knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in seventh year, and he was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters.”
(Goblet of Fire, Chapter 27, Padfoot Returns).
Snapes vänner hade också en stor roll att spela. De tog det som redan var en ganska vriden fascination med Dark Magic och förvärrade den. De var ett dåligt inflytande på honom och eggade honom längre och längre ner vägen till full Death Eater-medlemskap. Snape var ganska blind för hur mörk den magiska av några av hans vänner var.
"... thought we were supposed to be friends?” Snape was saying. “Best friends?”
“We are, Sev, but I don’t like some of the people you’re hanging round with! I’m sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he’s creepy! D’you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?”
Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face.
“That was nothing,” said Snape. “It was a laugh, that’s all-”
“It was Dark Magic, and if you think that’s funny-”
(Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33, The Prince's Tale).
Denna flyttning till mörkare och mörkare magi var också det som alienerade Lily från Snape. När han kallade henne en Mudblood avbröt hon väsentligen vänskapen av förtvivlan på den väg som Snape hade tagit. Hon kallar honom också för att vara en del av ett gäng med kända Death Eater-sympatisörer.
“It’s too late. I’ve made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends - you see, you don’t even deny it! You don’t even deny that’s what you’re all aiming to be! You can’t wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?”
He opened his mouth, but closed it without speaking.
“I can’t pretend anymore. You’ve chosen your way, I’ve chosen mine.”
(Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33, The Prince's Tale).
Lily var i huvudsak ett inflytande på honom. Dark Magic och hans Death Eater vänner var en annan. Han försökte hålla dessa två delar av sitt liv intakt, i huvudsak spela dem mot varandra. Men de var oförsonliga. Han plockade Death Eaters, till sin eviga ånger. JK Rowling har tagit upp denna inre konflikt i en intervju.
Nithya: Lily detested Mulciber and Avery. If Snape really loved her, why didn't he sacrifice their company for her sake?
J.K. Rowling: Well, that is Snape’s tragedy. Given his time over again he would not have become a Death Eater, but like many insecure, vulnerable people (like Wormtail) he craved membership of something big and powerful, something impressive. He wanted Lily and he wanted Mulciber too. He never really understood Lily’s aversion; he was so blinded by his attraction to the dark side he thought she would find him impressive if he became a real Death Eater.
(Leaky Cauldron Web Chat).