Snape and the Life Debt

[amiabledorsai]

No: HPFGUIDX 139180

 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:
<Snip> 
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.

<Big Snips>

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!

Amiable Dorsai:
What if it just comes down to this:  As a consequence of Snape's
indirect collusion in killing James, he is forced to avenge him?  Or
to help James' son do so?  That is, only by colluding in Voldemort's
destruction can Snape be rid of the debt and its (so far,
hypothetical) consequences.

This may go some way towards explaining Snape's resentment of
Harry--he's the living symbol of Snape's bondage.

Amiable Dorsai