Snape and the Life Debt

[also_september_19]

No: HPFGUIDX 139148

Delwynmarch wrote:

> We keep hearing about the Life Debt, but interestingly enough we are
> never told how it works. I doubt that's an oversight.
< massive snip of Del's theory. Go UPTHREAD to read it>


Also-September-19

I'm posting back without constructing first - probably a mistake on 
this list - but it's late here (in Holland) and the whole issue of 
the life debts and what they mean has also been bothering me.

I think the idea that you cannot be part of killing the person you 
owe a life debt to is a good working hypothsis - though I don't think 
there's any support for this in the text.  In fact, I can't think of 
any place the workings of a life debt are explained.  But that you 
can't murder the person who saved your life seems pretty intuitively 
correct.

There are two life debts floating around...  Peter P's to Harry, and 
Snape's to James...  I have to believe they will come back with some 
significant force in the last book...

The problem with your (very very clever) idea of Snape transfering 
the debt to DD and then repaying it with saving DD from the curse of 
the ring (whatever that was) - is that it doesn't explain DD's 
absolute certainty about Snape throughout the book.  He doesn't 
hesitate.  (& we see with his treatment and opinion of Tom Riddle 
that he's perfectly capable of having reservations about someone, and 
still giving them the benefit of the doubt, but, as Harry says, not 
really trusting them.)  I see no sign of these reservations about 
Snape.  

Also, since we know the Dada job is cursed, why would Snape (evil or 
good) want it?  The only real perk it comes with is a guarenteed exit 
from Hogwarts.  It's not like the Dada teacher has access to magical 
books or object that other professors don't.  Or at least I don't 
remember that coming up anywhere.

But I'm with you on the idea that life debts are more important than 
they seem now.  And also that it's not unintentional on JKR's part 
that we haven't been told more about them before now.  

And I think I'm with you on Snape having a real problem with his life 
debt to James through (unwittingly) being the cause of his death. 
This *must* have had consequences.  And I've been wondering about 
what they are for books now!

(By the by, does V know that PeterP has a life debt to Harry?)

Well, I hope that post made sense...  

Also-September-19th (Denya)