Stopper in Death

[mooseming]

No: HPFGUIDX 92324

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, cora_dee <cora_dee at w...> wrote:
> Great group, great discussions! I'm very happy to have found you :)
> 
> But now here's a question I didn't see answered before:
> 
> You all know Snape's Speech about the art of potion making. And you
remember that line about "putting a stopper in death". 
> 
> Well ... let's play! If that's the special ability potion making
offers to a master - whose death is Snape going to stopper? 
> 
> Harry? Dumbledore? Voldemort? Sirius? Anyone else's? 
> 
> Wondering,
> C.

Welcome C.

This is a really interesting point. I can't access my books right now
as they are packed but I'd love to re read that quote. At the time,
reading the first book, I thought it a very lyrical speach and it was
JKR showing that Snape is charismatic. Thinking on it now, given that
one of the *big* themes is death, avoiding death, worse things than
death etc its got to be very important. Does the 'stopper' comment
really mean 'stopping death'? Or is it simply a poetic description of
poison?

On the whole avoiding/cheating death is depicted as not good. From the
'acceptable' like ghosts who are generally sad and unable to move on
and  in SS/PS where ultimately Flamel destroys the stone for general
safety and DD clearly approves, to the worst in DE's, Voldy and
dementors, interfering with death is a bad thing.

Also stopping death is very difficult isn't Voldy the only one to 
conquer death without the SS/PS? 

So can Snape actually avoid death? If so would he teach his pupils
such things? It seems out of character for Snape to claim to do
something he can't but if he can what purpose has it served in the
past and as you point out what for the future, and what is the price?

So to play your what ifs.....
What if Snape is responsible for immortal Voldy?
What if Harry thinks Snape might be able to help him 'cure' Sirius?
Harry wrote this quote down after all!

Well you've certainly given me something to ponder....thanks....I
think :-)

Jo