Snape kills V

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 136163

> dan:
> Ah, but that is key too, the monumental aspect of his betrayal. It
> means that for our protagonist, his coming to terms with Snape (and
> little Draco Malfoy) will be a thing of sheer gift - nothing Snape
can do will make up for his betrayal, and if Potter wants to proceed,
he will have to have the generosity that Albus foresaw him needing.
> 
> As for Snape, it's just sad.


Carol responds:
Or the monumental mistake could be leaving Hogwarts to look for the
Horcrux and ignoring Harry's warning that Draco has achieved what he's
been trying to do all year. He's found a way to let Death Eaters into
Hogwarts. Until that moment, Dumbledore is under the delusion that the
various protections he's placed on Hogwarts have made it safe. Going
after the Horcrux and drinking all the poison could also be counted as
a monumental mistake, especially when it turns out that the Horcrux is
fake.

Had it not been for those two mistakes, Dumbledore could easily have
disarmed Draco *before* freezing Harry, kept his wand, and dealt with
the Death Eaters as easily as he did with Fudge and the Aurors in OoP.
And then, when Snape came hurtling into the room, he would have been
faced with a very different set of choices. If Draco was in no danger
and was no longer trying to kill Dumbledore would he still have been
bound to kil Dumbledore or die? Or would the vow be void if he chose
instead to help hide Draco from the Death Eaters?

At any rate, Snape's mistake is evident from the moment he agrees to
take that vow. But Dumbledore's mistake may not be what you think it is.

As for Snape, it's more than sad. It's tragic. The vow is his tragic
flaw, his hamartia. Just possibly, like Orestes in "The Eumenides,"
he'll be redeemed. Or so I hope.

Carol