Dumbledore and Snape

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 133652

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "slgazit" <slgazit at s...> wrote:
> Like it or not, he had to do it. Of course, he damned himself by his
> action, so I expect some finale type death of him in the end, but I
> now believe that he'll stay on the good side (as much as he can do
> that) till the end.
> 
> Moreover, we see that Wormtail - who owes his life to Harry - and
> Snape - who owes his life to Harry's father - are now together. This
> will play an important role in the final showdown.
> 
> Just MO.
> Salit

houyhnhnm:

I was kind of a Snape fan, mainly because he *seemed* to be such a 
complex character--a man "not wholly bad or good".

But I thought like you, that Snape might not survive on the good  
side after Dumbledore's death because he is the type to be loyal to 
an individual not a principle.  And, yes, I also agree that something 
about the terrible deed he has been forced to commit will keep him on 
the good side.

I personally think Dumbledore was in control to the end.  We saw in 
PoA the extent to which he has penetrated the mystery of time.  For 
16 years, Dumbledore's goal has been to raise Harry to adulthood and 
provide him with all the knowledge he will need to defeat Voldemort.  
He dies as his work is completed and in a manner that manages to save 
a child from becoming a killer.

There is no doubt in my mind that Snape is obeying Dumbledore's 
command to kill him, rather than Voldemort's. And he is doing it 
under extreme duress.

I was struck between the simularities between these two passages:

In the cave:
"Hating himself, repulsed by what he was doing, Harry forced the 
goblet back toward Dumbledore's mouth and tipped it..." (p. 571)

On the lightening-struck tower:
"Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and 
hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

"Severus ... please"

Snape raised his wand... (p.595-596)

On second reading it seems more likely to me that Dumbledore is not 
saying 'please don't kill me', but 'please do what you promised to 
do'.