Dumbledore’s Assisted Suicide Theory

[Dysis]

No: HPFGUIDX 132912

Now, before I begin, I'd like to say that I do not agree with 
assisted suicide, and I really would not appreciate any flames. I 
realize this is a very controversial subject, especially when 
associated with a series aimed at a younger audience. I'm writing 
this theory because perhaps JKR does support assisted suicide, as 
controversial as that statement sounds. Now, on with the theory


Pretty self-explanatory, I think. But let me go into the details. I 
do not believe DD was becoming senile, or as Harry called him, "a 
foolish old man." Perhaps physically he was less able than before, 
as shown with his hand injury from the fight with LV, but mentally 
he seemed in very good shape. Dumbledore trusted Snape, and I don't 
believe he was wrong in doing so. DD saw so much of Harry that Harry 
did not see in himself. DD knew that HP belonged in Gryffindor, even 
when Harry doubted himself. DD also showed Harry how truly different 
from Voldemort he was because he had love. So why should he be wrong 
about Snape? Yes, Snape is a good Occlumens, but Dumbledore is a 
good Legilimens. Even after Harry mentions how good of an Occlumens 
Snape is and that he could have easily lied, Dumbledore mearly looks 
at harry and says, "I trust Severus completely" [P. 549, US]. DD 
knows real evil. He can sense crooked traits such as a taste for 
power and a lack of empathy that certain people possess – like, for 
instance, Tom Riddle. However, we know that Snape does not lack 
empathy – he cares for Draco enough to make an Unbreakable Vow with 
his mother. He's always cared for Draco and revered him as a 
student. And anyway, it seems that Draco's family itself is trying 
to break free of LV's grasp on them. Notice that in the 5th book, 
Kreachure considered Narcissa Malfoy his second Mistress, while in 
the 6th book he now calls Bellatrix his second mistress. In addition 
to this, Draco obviously hesitated and could not kill DD at the end 
of the 6th book. Snape being tied very close – to the death, in 
fact – with this family proves a certain amount of resistance to the 
dark Lord, does it not?

While in the enchanted cave, DD took a potion that "was no health 
drink" [P. 580, US]. That is all that we learn directly from DD, but 
in the cave, Harry notices DD's odd behavior induced by the potion. 
This, in itself, was incredibly dark and made me uncomfortable. 
Dumbledore actually pleaded for death! We have no idea what the 
potion was meant to do – perhaps it was meant to imitate the 
emotions of the little boy and girl LV terrorized in that cave, or 
perhaps something else – but it weakened DD substantially, made his 
seem more child-like (primitive, maybe? I'm not sure of the word to 
use here), and made him ask for death. Now, let's flash forward to 
the tower scene. Draco was unable to kill DD, and even in his 
weakened state, DD was able to make Draco doubt where his loyalty 
lay (family, rather than LV) and asked him to join the good side. It 
seemed that Draco was almost convinced to join the good side before 
the door swung open and some Death Eaters joined the crowd. Even 
they couldn't get Draco to kill DD, but then Snape burst onto the 
scene.

"`Severus
.'
The sound frightened Harry more than anything he had experienced all 
evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.
Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out 
of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even 
the werewolf seemed cowed.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and 
hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
`Severus
 please
'"

Revulsion and hatred etched in Snape's face? Hatred for what? For 
Dumbledore, one of the kindest and wisest men thus far in the books? 
The one man who showed Severus love and trust? I would rather say 
that perhaps anger was etched in Snape's face. Both DD and Snape are 
good Legilimens. It is not implausible that they could perhaps 
communicate telepathically as well. In fact, I am surprised that no 
solid examples of this have been shown in the books yet, since 
teleporting (Apparating, in this case) and mind reading are 
possibilities. Dumbledore, knowing that Snape had done an 
Unbreakable Vow after earlier discussions with him, would know that 
if Snape didn't kill him, Snape would die – and that would be a 
horrible blow to everybody, since Snape was the Order's only spy, 
and a very high up in LV's ranks as well. So telepathically, DD 
asked Snape to kill him. And with anger etched on his face – that he 
had to kill the one man who truly trusted him and actually loved him 
(remember, Snape lacked love when he was younger) – and being bound 
by the Vow, he did as DD asked.

I'd love feedback! But please, do not flame me, because I know this 
is a very controversial issue.

~Dysisgirl