[HPforGrownups] Prediction: Snape to DADA, then killed

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 74673

JW wrote:

> Alas, DADA instructors do not last more than one year.  So, Snape is 
> finally caught by Voldemort and killed. (Maybe indecision on Harry's 
> part delay's a rescue plan and thereby allows Snape's death.)
> 
> Finally, as Dumbledore does the end-of-book wrap up, we learn why 
> Dumbledore trusted Snape.  And... Harry can feel even more guilt for 
> not trusting Snape all those years despite Dumbledore and Hermione's 
> admonitions.

That theory's possible.  Interesting if Harry's favorite class would suddenly be taught by Snape.  Poor Harry. :)  However, I think there's a good reason why Dumbledore hasn't told Harry why he trusts Snape.  I think it would make him hate Snape even more, but at the same time, if he'd stop long enough to think about it, make him trust Snape as well.  However, it's getting past that hatred that's the hard part. 

A sample senario:  Suppose Snape was the person who overheard the prophecy.  He tells Voldemort the first part (whether he heard the whole thing or not could then be argued, but I'll skip it), thinking Voldemort will know who to keep an eye on, steer clear of, worry about later.  Then Voldemort says, great, let's go kill these babies.  Now, if there's any heart left in a person at all, that would awaken it.  Kill babies?  Innocents?  Who are completely helpless and unable to defend themselves?  Hardly a fair way to fight.  Kill them when they're older, kill them once they can wave a wand and fight back.  But to kill a baby?  So, Snape realizes he's made a big mistake, etc.  Having known Dumbledore in the past as a student and knowing perhaps that Dumbledore is one for second chances, not to mention the only wizard Voldemort feared, Snape then goes to him and says in so many words, look, I'm an idiot, I told Voldemort etc.  Dumbledore now knows Voldemort knows.  But Voldemort doesn't know Dumbledore knows he knows.  Got that?  So now Dumbledore knows Voldemort's coming after possibly both the Potters and Longbottoms.  Alerts them.  Secret keepers, etc.  Pettigrew betrays them, Potters killed, curse bounces, the rest is history.  

In a scenario like that, if Dumbledore told Harry why he trusts Snape, regardless of the fact that it proved Snape's good intentions to Dumbledore, all Harry would see was the part where Snape told Voldemort the prophecy and therefore lead to his parents death.  And have something else to blame Snape for.

Obviously I have little or no canon for any of that, except perhaps for this.  A) Dumbledore tells Harry almost everything he asks (Longbottoms, etc.), yet refuses to tell him why he trusts Snape.  Which leads me to believe it's because it would hurt Harry more, lead to further hatred, etc.  B) Someone did hear the prophecy, someone who was thrown out of Hogs Head, and Snape never goes to Hogsmeade, does he?  Okay, so it's not quite his cup of tea. :)  So again, pure speculation, but it's fun to speculate, right?

Richelle 


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