[HPforGrownups] Snape's bravery?

[Kathryn Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 133687

Sherry Gomes wrote:

> On a different note, because this will use up my third message of the day,
> several people have said that Snape knew about the Horcruxes?  Did I spell
> that right?  Is there anything in the book that says he did?  Dumbledore
> told Harry not to tell anyone but Ron and Hermione, to the point that he
> wouldn't even tell McGonigal at the end.  Would DD have told Snape about
> them?  I am curious.
> 
> Sherry

Kathy writes:

     I think they have both been in on it from the beginning.

1.  Dumbledore could have told Harry that he was taking potions and to 
buy his books. Snape produced his old school book for Slughorn to give 
him. They knew that Harry would share it with his friends.  Hermione 
needs to learn to think outside the box. The twins invent items and 
spells at an incredible rate. It hasn't ocurred to Hermione until now 
that it can be done. Snape made no serious attempt to get the book back 
from Harry, and no serious punishment was given Harry by either Snape or 
Dumbledore for using what he learned in the book. The lesson in the book 
on bezoars saved Ron's life.

2.  Snape was the only person Dumbledore wanted when he thought that he 
had the third horcrux, and apparently was the first person he went to 
when he acquired the second horcrux. Snape does have the most experience 
with the Dark Arts. While Dumbledore might have retrieved them at great 
cost to himself, it may well have been Snape who deactivated the ring. I 
believe that Dumbledor was actually dying from the curses when he got 
the ring. Time was of great importance to him throughout the book.

3.  I think Snape really did know what Draco's task was, which was to 
kill Dumbledore. I think he manipulated Narcissa into asking for his 
help. He may not have been expecting the Unbreakable Vow, but I believe 
Dumbledore told him to do whatever was necessary to cement his position 
with Voldemort. At the time of the Vow, Snape was being watched by 
Wormtail, suspected by Bella, and other DE were taking stories to 
Voldemort. I have no problem with Voldemort trusting him with the plan. 
Snape was the only DE with any brains at all. He was the only one who 
was still in exactly the same place he was when V disappeared. He had a 
good explanation for Voldemort and lots of lovely, mean, memories for V. 
to look at. He knew that Voldemort meant for him to do the job if Draco 
couldn't. I think that in making the Vow, Snape was in effect giving up 
his own life. He had no intention of doing it.

4.  Dumbledore was certain that the potion he drank would eventually 
kill him. I think he wanted Harry to get Snape to take possession of the 
horcrux, not knowing it was a fake. The attack on the castle was a 
surprise, I think, because nobody thought Draco could do it. Things kind 
of went to Hell in the tower but Dumbledore made Snape stick with the 
game plan. Snape has never disobeyed a directive of Dumbledore's, even 
the ones he hated. Interestingly enough, I believe that Snape has killed 
previously or Dumbledore might not have been able to trust that Snape 
could do it. That could have been what Snape meant in the argument when 
he said "you take too much for granted."

5.  Another poster said that Dumbledor had no partner.  Too many things 
were kept from McGonagall, Lupin, and the rest and especially Harry 
because of the mental contact with Voldemort. The only person who could 
have told Dumbledore that Voldemort was now blocking Harry out 
completely is Snape. I believe that is because once Voldemort found out 
about the accidental destruction of one of his horcruxes, which he now 
has every good reason to believe, work, he doesn't want anyone else 
getting wind of it. I believe that Snape has been Dumbledore's closest 
partner ever since he realized what he did when he told Voldemort about 
the prophecy. It makes sense too that Snape was not told about the full 
prophecy because of the grilling he was still getting from Voldemort. 
That could not be passed until Voldemort was convinced beyond a shadow 
of a doubt that Snape was his most loyal DE. In a previous post I 
mentioned that I believed that Dumbledor had become the temporary 
repository for all of Snape's memories that could not be allowed to be 
seen by Voldemort and I think that the phoenix released at the burial 
will return them as well as whatever other information Dumbledore wanted 
him to have.

However, this is my humble opinion.  She made complete idiots out of 
half of us last time, I have no doubt that she will do it again.
KJ