Life Debt Question

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86273

- Kathryn Wolber wrote:
> I'll attempt to have this not be a one liner, but do
> we know what happens if someone does not repay a life
> debt? Snape had a life debt to James;James died
> without it being repayed and we don't see any
> repercussions for that.  What would the point of a
> life debt be if there is no consequence for not
> repaying it?  Any thoughts?


I think he tried to repay it, passing on to Dumbledore the information
that Voldemort was trying to kill the Potters and possibly also the
suspicion that one of James's friends was a traitor. But his attempt
failed, so he feels bound to free himself of the life debt by trying
to save Harry. (Somehow someone else always gets the credit.) He may
dislike Harry intensely, but he's not about to let him die.

Exactly how a life debt works, I don't know, but Dumbledore (speaking
of Peter's debt to Harry) says that "when one wizard saves another
wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them" and that he's
"much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry
Potter."  And he adds, "This is magic at its deepest, its moast
impenetrable, Harry. But trust me. . . the time may come when you will
be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life"(PoA 427 Am. ed., ellipsis in
original).

I'm not sure what that says about Snape's life debt to James except
that it explains to some degree his resentment of it--imagine owing
your life to someone you hated and knowing you had to repay the
debt--if not to him, then to his son. (That in intself probably
explains why he feels such loathing for Harry before he's even spoken
to him.) Whatever it is, it's deep and binding, and as I see it, Snape
can never rest until he's free of it. (As for Peter, I'm sure he'll
put off the obligation as long as possible: out of sight, out of mind.
But a time will come when he won't be able to resist the compulsion,
either.)

Carol, who thinks the unpaid life debt is one reason why Dumbledore
trusts Snape