Dumbledore and Trust

[kellymcj2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 73151

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "meltowne" <meltowne at y...> 
wrote:
> We all wonder a bit about Dumbledore's ability to judge people, and 
> whether he should trust people as much as he does - or even why he 
> trusts someone like Snape.
> 
> 
> Why does he trust Snape?  My theory is that Snape loved Lily, and 
> that was part of his hatred toward James - the memory in the 
Penseive 
> reminded him how badly he treated her at Hogwarts.  Perhaps the 
> reason Snape was able to break free of LV is the very same reason 
> Harry survived - love.  LV did the unthinkable and killed Lily.  
> While Harry reminds him a great deal of James, he is still the only 
> child of the woman he loved; the only thing left of her.  Perhaps 
his 
> treatment of Harry is also because he truly expects more from him.  
A 
> good teacher pushes the best students harder, to help them rise to 
> their potential.  Perhaps Snape is using a bit of reverse 
> psychology.  He knows everyon must think he hates Harry, so why not 
> use that to his advantage - get Harry to work hard to prove him 
wrong.

KelMc
I think part of the reason DD trusts Snape is because he knows Snape 
can't hurt Harry.  I think Snape's life debt to James' makes it 
impossible to do Harry serious damage and he may have a life debt to 
DD as well.  The reason I think the life debt may tie one's hands is 
because DD tells Harry the life debt is magic at its deepest.  He 
says it creates a bond between wizards and Voldy won't want his 
servant in Harry's debt.  

All in all, it sounds to me as if this life debt is pretty powerful.  
I think that's why Snape can hate Harry as much as he does.  He's 
indebted to the James, but this magic doesn't make him hate James any 
less.  In fact, he may be royally peeved at the whole situation.  He 
could really despise muggle born wizards, but if he's in DD's debt he 
cant' really act on it. I think this explains his atrocious behavior 
to Hermione and his liking for the Slytherins.  

Maybe I'm wrong and it is all an act so Voldy can see yucky hateful 
things when he looks into Snape's head, as many posters suspect.  And 
I know, it does seem to go against the whole choice theme. However, 
JKR did say we shouldn't feel too much sympathy for Snape.  Well, 
time will tell.  

KelMc