- Winky the house-elf was “saving Crouch a seat” at the Quidditch World Cup—for which he never showed. It is possible that Sirius relays this information after “Padfoot Returns”—but that is not until March.
- Bagman’s offer to help Harry, or his odd appearance in the woods right after the Dark Mark appeared
- The entirety of “The Egg and The Eye” episode following Harry’s bath in the prefects bathroom, where Harry sees “Bartemius Crouch” in Snape’s office and invisibly observes a late-night run-in of Snape, Filch, and someone he thinks is Mad-Eye Moody
It is this last point that proves crucial. A careful read of the scene shows that the only reason Crouch Jr. is getting away with his schemes is because Snape and Dumbledore are no longer on speaking terms. Consider Snape’s showdown with the imposter Moody after Harry’s jaunt to the prefects’ bathroom. “‘Dumbledore happens to trust me!’ said Snape through clenched teeth. ‘I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!’” (GF472) This certainly sounds like Snape is being defensive about a touchy subject—it hearkens back to how much Lupin prized Dumbledore’s trust, and suggests that Snape valued it just as highly. This comment illustrates the breakdown of communication between Snape and Dumbledore. Of course Dumbledore gave no such order, and if Snape had but checked with Dumbledore, Crouch Jr.’s whole scheme would have unraveled.
In fact, Crouch Jr. comes to rely on this. During “The Madness of Mr. Crouch,” he arrives on the scene very quickly and attributes this to “Snape said something about Crouch—” (GF561) Once again, if Dumbledore had mentioned this to Snape, Fake Moody would have been revealed as the culprit. But by this point, Crouch Jr. knows he can rely on the fact that the two are not talking.
The rift between Snape and Dumbledore lasts through the entirety of Goblet of Fire. And not only is Snape bitter and uncommunicative towards Dumbledore, he also truly reaches the zenith of his unpleasantness and cruelty in the fourth book. While he was never a nice guy, his actions in Goblet of Fire are beyond the pale. He threatens Harry with Veritaserum. He reads Rita Skeeter’s humiliating article aloud in class—it’s the kind of thing that would get any normal professor fired (GF515). And worst of all, he insults the appearance of a fifteen-year-old girl in front of all her peers (GF299-300). This hurt Hermione so much that she permanently changed her appearance by shrinking her teeth. Almost all of the evidence that Snape is a loathsome human being comes from Goblet of Fire, when he was acting out because he was angry with Dumbledore.
The only conversation we are aware of Snape and Dumbledore having in private this year is revealed in “The Prince’s Tale,” taking place right after the Yule Ball.
“Well?” murmured Dumbledore.
“Karkaroff ’s Mark is becoming darker too. He is panicking, he fears retribution; you know how much help he gave the Ministry after the Dark Lord fell.” Snape looked sideways at Dumbledore’s crooked-nosed profile. “Karkaroff intends to flee if the Mark burns.”
“Does he?” said Dumbledore softly, as Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies came giggling in from the grounds. “And are you tempted to join him?”
“No,” said Snape, his black eyes on Fleur’s and Roger’s retreating figures. “I am not such a coward.” (DH679-680)
This passage can be read several ways, but I think the reading most consistent with the rest of the book is Snape and Dumbledore discussing business without any warmth and feeling out where their relationship stands. Half a year on from the Sirius Black debacle, Snape feels enough of a sense of duty to inform Dumbledore about the Dark Mark growing stronger, primarily because he has more animosity for Voldemort than for Dumbledore at the moment.
Tellingly, however, Dumbledore feels the need to question Snape’s loyalties. He asks if Snape is tempted to join Karkaroff because that is a distinct possibility in Dumbledore’s mind. Snape has shown that he puts his personal grudges above Harry’s wellbeing. Dumbledore is aware that Snape will do almost anything out of vindictiveness. Thirteen years after Snape pledged his loyalty, Dumbledore needs to check in and see how far Snape is willing to take this conflict. This is a tacit acknowledgement of their estrangement by Dumbledore.
The next line from Dumbledore is the single most offensive thing he says: “You are a braver man by far than Igor Karkaroff. You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon. . . .” And with all but a mic drop, Dumbledore walks away. He implied that if any Slytherin exhibits bravery or other positive qualities, they’re in the wrong house because no good people ever go to Slytherin.
Two layers exist here. First, Dumbledore is needling Snape; it’s well-known that Snape appears to have a lot of Slytherin pride.25 Second, Dumbledore is at his most candid when conversing with Snape, so this probably is an accurate reflection of Dumbledore’s feelings, a capstone on half a century of blatant partisanship.
Did Snape ever consider defecting from Dumbledore’s side during Goblet of Fire? It’s an interesting question to ponder. If Snape had a third option to declare allegiance to, aside from Voldemort and Dumbledore, I believe he would have in a heartbeat. But much like American elections, he only had two real options, however unpalatable he might find them. And whatever slights he received from Dumbledore, whether recent or half a lifetime ago, nothing could make Snape return to Voldemort. A combination of obsessive love and an impressive ability to hold a grudge ensured that Snape would never ever forgive Voldemort for Lily’s death, and his vindictiveness ensured he would forever do whatever must be done to defeat Voldemort . . . however much he may dislike his allies.
This conversation between Dumbledore and Snape also presents an interesting mirror to
