Snape did not believe Sirius was innocent because of his strong bias against him and his unwavering loyalty to Voldemort. Here's a breakdown of Snape's reasons for not believing Sirius:
Snape's Bias Against Sirius
- Past Feud: Snape and Sirius had a long-standing rivalry stemming from their Hogwarts days. They were in different houses, Snape was a Slytherin, and Sirius a Gryffindor, and they had very different views on magic and life. This rivalry escalated after Sirius joined the Marauders, a group of troublemakers that Snape deeply disliked.
- James Potter: Sirius was James Potter's best friend, and Snape despised James for bullying him relentlessly. Snape transferred this hatred to Sirius, as he saw him as an accomplice to James's actions.
- Lily Evans: Snape was deeply in love with Lily Evans, who was James Potter's friend. He believed that Sirius was part of the group that made fun of Lily and contributed to her eventual betrayal of Snape.
Snape's Loyalty to Voldemort
- Dark Arts: Snape was a skilled and dedicated student of the Dark Arts. He believed in Voldemort's ideals and saw him as a powerful and influential figure.
- The Death Eaters: Snape joined the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers, and was deeply committed to their cause. He saw Sirius as a threat to Voldemort and his goals.
- Peter Pettigrew: Snape believed that Peter Pettigrew, who was also a member of the Marauders, was the one who betrayed the Potters, not Sirius. He trusted Pettigrew's word, as he was also a Death Eater.
Snape's strong biases and loyalty to Voldemort prevented him from seeing the truth about Sirius's innocence. He was blinded by his hatred and his commitment to the Dark Arts.
