A simple-minded question

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 94996

Sylvia wrote:
Does Harry owe a life-debt to Snape for saving his life in the 
first  book? >>>
 
Steve Bboy replied:  
>>>Snape did not save Harry. Snape TRIED to save Harry, but it was 
Hermione with her Flame Charm that actually saved him, although she 
saved him by an accidental twist of fate.
So, if Harry has a life debt to anyone, it's Hermione.>>
 
Ali responded:
I actually wonder if in that instant whether Harry does owe a life 
debt to anyone.
 
We know that Snape owed a life debt to James because James saved his 
life. James risked his life to save Snape.
 
We know that Pettigrew owes a life debt to Harry because Harry saved 
his life. Arguably, Harry risked his life to save Pettigrew.
"He ran forward, placing himself in front of Pettigrew, facing the 
wands" p. 275 PoA UK edition. At that moment, Sirius was so intent on
killing Pettigrew that he might have been unable to stop himself
firing off the curse. Harry took an enormous risk.
 
Harry's life was under threat during that Quidditch match. Both 
Snape and Hermione ensured that no harm was done. But, neither 
risked their life to save him. I think that risk *must* be part of 
the ancient magic which seals the life debt. My feeling is that no 
life debt was formed then.
 
Carol:
Interesting perspective, Ali. I like the idea of ancient magic sealing
the bond. Do you have any canon for that, or is just an analogy to
Lily's self-sacrifice? (I think she placed a charm on Harry, but
that's another thread.)

Anyway, if you're right about risk being involved, then Snape can't
have been trying to pay off his life debt to James in the quidditch
scene, as I previously thought. In order to repay that annoying life
debt, he'll have to risk his life to save Harry. So I still think that
saving Harry (and incidentally Hermione and Ron) from a werewolf and a
murderer was one of his many motives in rushing after Lupin in the
Shrieking Shack scene, but trying to save him from Quirrell was for
the cause (loyalty to Dumbledore and keeping Harry alive for the final
confrontation with LV).

Carol, who still wonders what the consequences are of dying with a
lifedebt unpaid