an old man's mistakes/Snape

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 138994

"Cindy L" : 
> 
> I think Dumbledore trusted Snape because Dumbledore is human, not 
> some divine being, and as a human he is not infallible.  I think 
> people have gotten the impression from the books that he is perfect.  
> I think JKR is showing us that he is not; that he is too trusting, 
> and that his mistakes tend to "be huger" (I think that is the way 
> Dumbledore describes it - I don't have the book at the moment).

Finwitch:

I agree - you ever heard it said that "to err is human, to forgive is 
divine"? Dumbledore has always had such a huge portion of both in him, 
I'd say.

And about Snape - well, I must say that it's very wondrous how Rowling 
can have Snape kill Dumbledore *without* removing that ambiguousness 
that always was there about Snape. Because, well, he *was* bound by 
that Unbreakable Vow - and I think he could not have broken off it any 
more than Kreacher could disobey Harry's 'shut up' - or 'spy Draco 
Malfoy'. Unbreakable Vow - and I wouldn't put it past Voldemort to have 
Snape take UV to obey...

Nevertheless, if you were bound by UV to do conflicting things - lie 
and speak the truth, say - you'd die in a horrible way, end up becoming 
two or something... I think it's even possible that if the oath is not 
filled during life, the wiz. becomes a ghost in order to complete it - 
or why do you think marital vows say: "until death shall us part?"

No, it's in taking the oath where Severus made his choice, not in 
fulfilling it.

Finwitch