And then there were none.

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 93120

Carol:
<< I agree about Lupin and the silver hand, but please don't add 
Snape to the kill list! I don't think he'll be headmaster (he'll only 
be about 39 at the end of the series), but I can see him as DADA 
instructor, head of Slytherin (still), and assistant headmaster to 
McGonagall, the new headmistress.>>

Greatelderone: 
<< I don't think McGonagall is going to live long enough to become  
headmaster herself. There's a few references in ootp about her buying 
the farm. And I doubt Snape is ever going to become the DADA 
teacher.>>

Carol wrote:
<< Just not dead or a traitor to Dumbledore. I hate to ask this 
question since I'm not sure I want to know the answer, but why did 
you add Snape to the list?>>

Greatelderone replied:
<< Because of the six major representatives of Lily and James's 
generation three are dead(Sirius, Lily and James) and two are 
probably going to end up dead(Remus and Pettigrew) so with the whole  
law of averages and everything I think it's probable that Severeus 
dies and joins them.>>

Sigune here:
My dear Greatelderone, would you mind telling me who, in your 
opinion, will be LEFT at the end of Book 7? I do hope you would 
allow /someone/ to survive.

And please let it be Snape after all :).

I know, I know, do I really have to return from lurkdom to tell you 
all once again that the LAST thing I want is for Snape to die? Well, 
yes - the matter is too close to my heart not to vent my opinion.

I guess I am pretty biased, but I think it would not be a good move 
of JKR's to have Snape killed. I mean, to what purpose would that be? 
What plot line would it serve? She would take out one of the most 
complex characters she has created (and, to my mind, the single most 
interesting one so far).
I took part in a survey asking people why they got hooked on the HP 
series in the first place and what they liked and disliked about it, 
and thinking these things over I concluded that my greatest dislike 
has to do with the characterisation of the baddies. Take Draco Malfoy 
for example: I think he's a cardboard character. His father has the 
advantage of having a certain style, but he is a Death Eater, a 
racist, an opportunist, he treats his House Elf badly, etc etc - like 
his son, he is all bad. Take Voldemort: same thing. And Bellatrix. 
And Macnair. It is of course possible that they will gain some depth 
in the next two books, but so far I have found them rather, well, 
simple. [ducks in expectation of attacks from all sides]

Now Snape - well, he is at least someone subtle. He needs 
interpreting. Look at all our discussions - we cannot even agree 
whose side he is on (except for the fact that we all seem to think he 
is at least on his own side). So two developments would really 
disappoint me: 1) Snape turning out to be on LV's side, and 2) Snape 
dying (I SO agree with Carol there). The first I really don't want to 
happen because it would suggest that a person's looks tell all about 
their nature. Snape is the very picture of an evil wizard, so he 
should /not/ turn out to be one - at least for me. The second I don't 
want to happen because I think there would be a wonderful irony in 
precisely Snape's survival. He is nasty, and JKR clearly did not 
intend him to be likeable (I think it so funny that she always seems 
so surprised at the number of Snape fans) - so, against the grain, I 
want him to live and, if possible, realise himself and be successful 
in whatever it is he will undertake after Voldie's defeat.
And though I admit being biased by my liking of Snape, I want to add 
that my other favourite is Dumbledore, and that I fully expect HIM to 
die, and am ready to accept that, even if it would pain me.

Yours severely,

Sigune