Snape's AK Failed!!!/Nagini as Horcrux/Lily's eyes

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 134425

Richelle wrote:
<snip>  
> It's already been said that it could've been the result of a limp
body simply falling, so I'll skip that.  What we do know is that Snape
definitely performed this AK on his own, with Voldemort no where
around.  I think it's also safe to say that Snape's AK is a little out
of practice.
> 
> The difference in the results of the AKs could've been just that
simple. Voldemort is clearly more experienced and completely in
control whereas Snape's AK, due to lack of "practice" was a lot wilder.

Carol responds:
So was the big blond death Eater's AK, which went wild and killed
another Death Eater--instantly and in the usual way, apparently.

Clearly there *is* something unusual about Snape's AK, and maybe he's
never used one before, but I don't think it's *just* lack of practice.
I think it's also, despite his anger and his look of revulsion, that
his anger was directed as much at himself as at Dumbledore and his
hatred was entirely directed at himself. He has the *power* to use an
AK--no question about that--but perhaps he didn't have the *will* to
do it. Or perhaps, as others have suggested, he thought another spell
(one that sends out a green light) as he spoke the words "Avada
Kedavra," but I don't think that would have worked. And I don't know
what would have happened if Dumbledore hadn't fallen from the tower.
Imagine if the DE's awe of Snape, Voldemort's new righthand man, had
ceased because he cast a failed AK. Maybe *he* would have been
murdered by the Death Eaters, who would recognize him as a
Dumbledore-lover and a traitor, and maybe that was what he half-hoped
would happen but couldn't allow because of his responsibility to Draco.

I wish I knew. This is driving me insane.

Carol

P.S. A thought on Horcruxes: I don't think they can be people, who are
subject to illness, old age, and mortality, exactly what Voldemort is
trying to avoid. I think it's supposed to be a solid object not
subject to corruption, preferably made of gold. And Voldemort would
have chosen objects with either symbolic value (a family heirloom
marking him as the Heir of Slytherin) or previously existing magical
powers. 

For that reason, it's odd that he would choose Nagini, who may not be
subject to human weakness but is almost certainly mortal. I can see
the symbolic value (she's a snake, and a dangerous one at that), and
her venom has magical powers (but maybe that's only because it has his
soul in it?). Maybe he identified with her so strongly that he
couldn't resist making her the seventh Horcrux, especially if he was
already assured (in his own mind) of immortality, having previously
made six other inanimate Horcruxes.

Again, I wish I knew. But of this much I'm certain. Harry isn't a
Horcrux. Voldemort wanted him dead, period, and any powers
(Parseltongue is the only one we know of for sure) that were
transferred to Harry were the result of the failed AK, not any
intention of Voldemort's. (Not saying that I'm right, only that I'm
convinced that this much is true.)

And a last thought regarding Lily's eyes: I think Slughorn, collector
though he was, had a genuine affection for Lily that prevents him from
suspecting that Harry's apparent skill at potion-making is unconnected
with hers. When Slughorn sees Harry's eyes, he sees Lily's eyes and
remembers her tragic fate, for which he partly blames himself (but not
enough to give Harry the unaltered memory). Once Harry has Slughorn at
a disadvantage, drunk and sentimentalizing along with Hagrid, he can
use that affection (and remorse) to obtain the memory. If it weren't
for Harry's having his mother's eyes, he'd never have known about that
affection (and Slughorn might have figured out the real source of
Harry's prowess, or at least looked into the matter).

Carol, who's sorry to combine unrelated ideas but has no choice with
the three-post limit