HBP: replies to many, and my thoughts

[Kimberly Davison]

No: HPFGUIDX 133068

Dysisgirl: "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."

Me (Kim): I understood that to mean that Narcissa was is second mistress at that time because Bellatrix was in Azkaban at the time. Kreacher couldn't very well go to her, so Narcissa was the next in line. And in HBP, Dumbledore tells Harry that in Black family tradition, the house (and Kreacher) would go to Bellatrix, as the oldest one left in the family.

As for Snape, my first reaction was the same as Harry's and all of the members of the Order. Shock, sadness (that's an understatement), and wondering how and why DD trusted him, how could he be so wrong? Now I have read chapters 2, 27, and 28 a few more times, and am really conflicted. On one hand, I think that it is very clear, Snape is ESE, and not only is he a true Death Eater, and loyal to V, he is also alot like V. He called himself the HBP, and that comparison to "Lord Voldemort" I consider significant. He thinks highly of himself. Which he is not wrong, he is a very accomplished wizard. Another thing that points to ESE Snape, is OotP, Chapter 36, "Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy? ... You need to MEAN them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain - to ejoy it - righteous anger won't hurt me for long - ..." Bellatrix to Harry. How could Snape kill DD if he didn't mean it. I do not see how it could work if he was loyal to DD. How could it be possible? And, while I do not believe DD was pleading for his life, I do believe he was pleading with Severus NOT to betray him. DD was not afraid of death, no, but he trusted Snape. I can see how it could be a plan to kill him some other way, if DD insisted Snape do it, but to use AK? I just don't see how. 
On the other hand, why did DD trust him? I do think there is more to this story, and although all of the evidence points to ESE Snape, I still have a little inkling of doubt. I am just not sure. 
I can not see how Snape could use AK and not be ESE. How is that possible? None of the other members of the Order used it, even when the DE are throwing it at them repeatedly. Even to defend themselves, they did not use it. 

Very interesting theory that RAB could be Regulas Black. Do we have any evidence of a middle name for him? I like this theory. I do wonder who helped him, though. I'm sure that DD saying that one could not do it alone is very significant. But I don't think it could have been Kreacher, because DD said the boat would measure how much magic is aboard (or something like that) and house elves have strong magical abilities. It would have to be a child, muggle, or squib, I would think.

Harry as a horcrux: Interesting, very interesting. That is possible, that he is a horcrux, but an unintentional one. The part of Voldemort that transferred over to Harry at GH, maybe that could be a horcrux. But, although it is an interesting theory, I don't think it's what JKR has planned, because I feel certain that DD would have figured that out. Then again, maybe he did figure it out, but is going to let Harry figure that one out on his own. But still, I don't think it'll happen that way. Neither can live while the other survives... Voldemort would be killing part of himself if that were true. No, I don't think it will go that way.
And as far as Voldemort INTENDING for Harry to be a horcrux, I don't think so at all.


Kenney: "He has never attacked Harry without need, or outside of a defensive context besides his Tom Riddle Horcrux."

Me (Kim): Huh? Well, aside from the theory that he never intended to kill Harry as a baby, which I don't follow, there were other times he tried to kill Harry while not defending himself. Sure, the PS could be considered self-defense, in that he wanted the stone in order to live. But GoF? He told Harry he was going to kill him, yet give him a chance to defend himself. I believe that "chance" he gave Harry was just another way of toying with him, torturing him even. He never believed Harry could actually do it, so yes, he was going to intentionally kill Harry at that time. And OotP? Chapter 36 "I have nothing more to say to you, Potter. You have irked me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA!" He was done with Harry, the prophecy was gone, so he didn't need him anymore. I would not call that a defensive move.


Alla: "Dumbledore talks with Draco as a man, who makes contingency plans and is ready to implement them, not as someone who knows that he is dying."

Me (Kim): Oooh, very good point! I didn't even think about that one. Yes, that further strengthens my belief that DD did NOT tell Snape to AK him. Even to think, that DD told Snape to use AK on him, just sounds impossible.
But, regarding the romances... LOL- Remus/Sirius. I know that is a popular pairing, but I just never saw that. I am happy to see two of my favorite characters hook up. Although, I did wonder at the beginning if her feelings were for Sirius, but had already decided against that long before Harry wondered the same. But, I never saw Remus/Tonks coming, and I like it. I will agree that it was not as well written as it could have been, and that's unusual for JKR, but I will have to re-read OotP to make sure of that. Perhaps there were hints we missed?


Mari: "By the end of (GoF) I was beginning to change my mind. Snape's response to Dumbledore's question at the end, in particular, pulled me up short and made me look at him in a new way:
'Severus, you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready. If you are prepared.' 'I am.' He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely."

Me (Kim): You know, this is a good quote to bring up. I see it in a different light now. Now, I see it as "he looked slightly paler than usual" because he was scared that Voldemort may not trust him when he came back, and "his cold, black eyes glittered strangely" perhaps because he was actually excited (if that is the right word) that Voldemort was back and that he would be going back to the "dark side", not to work as DD's double agent, but as Voldemort's.


I am not done reading the mail yet, so I am sure I'll have more replies, but I just wanted to say, I do agree with much of what many of you have said in defense of Snape. My mind is conflicted right now. If he had killed DD in any other way, perhaps I would not have a hard time believing that he is NOT ESE. But because of the use of AK, I just can not understand how he can be good. I agree that so many other things point to him as loyal to DD, but this Unforgivable Curse? How do you all feel about that? Snape fans, convince me please, I am really interested in what you think.


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