TBAY: Definitely NOT a Snape Theory (long)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 145415


> Pippin:
> Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought the LID theory  is that the 
> obligation Dumbledore referred to is strictly magical. I think it is
magical *and* 
> moral. 

Neri:
LID doesn't say that the obligation is *strictly* magical. Faith
wouldn't dream on constructing a theory that doesn't have any base in
canon. On the contrary, canon suggests that most of the really strong
Potterverse magic takes its power from moral (or immoral) sources, and
it seems the Life Debt fits right in with this trend.

In order to work, LID only requires that the magical and moral aspects
of the Debt aren't one and the same. That is, that a generally immoral
wizard might still repay his Debt. This goes well with the canon:
Dumbledore seemed very sure that Wormtail would act to repay his Debt
at the right moment, and yet I'm sure he doesn't consider Wormtail to
be a moral person. He is still Voldemort's servant.

This means that it would be possible for Snape to kill Dumbledore and
still remain InDebted to Harry. And of course, if he was able to kill
Dumbledore then bullying Harry wouldn't be a problem for him at all. 

You'll also notice that if the moral and magical aspects of the Debt
aren't one and the same, then Dumbledore complete trust in Snape
wasn't strictly because of his belief in Snape's remorse. That is,
even if Dumbledore indeed believed with all his heart that Snape
remorse was genuine, he also knew that even if his belief were
mistaken, Snape would still be magically compelled to save Harry.

Neri