We can't trust anyone...

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 77993

tj:" And this is my point. Harry can't *trust* DD anymore (well not
fully). Harry has learned a very hard lesson. But, my concern is that
Harry is not going to share this lesson with R/H and I think this
might lead to; in the next book Snape slipping up, and prove Ron
right. I think for all of Hermione's smarts, *she* like DD are blinded
by their abilities. Snape is going to try and kill Hermione. I think
this for various reasons... but, the big one is that Hermione puts
too much trust in DD."

Why will Snape do that?  For Snape to try to kill her, you must
believe him to be a mole, a Death Eater.  And why, if Snape is a DE,
did he not kill Harry (the real target)when he had numerous
opportunities?  To kill Hermione, because it might destroy Harry's
helper and close companion, would out Snape completely and destroy his
value to Voldemort as a secret agent.  If Snape's going to declare
himself as a DE, it will be against Harry directly.

About trust: Trust is about believing that someone won't betray you, a
knowing that their loyalty is with you, not about perfection. 
Dumbledore never betrayed Harry, nor will he.  The "zero defects"
definition makes trusting anyone impossible, which means that
Voldemort is right about everything. 

As far as other kinds of "trusting" goes, I like Reagan's saying with
respect to Gorbachev: "Trust, but verify."  Dumbledore, the Order, and
the Trio alike would be well advised to keep their eyes and ears open
with respect to Snape, Mundungus, or anybody else.  So what does
"trust" mean?  In this context, I'd say it means, "I assume that
_______ is loyal unless I see reason to believe otherwise."  Mistakes
don't have anything to do with that.

Jim Ferer