It's About Motive

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 135074

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "fanofminerva"
<drjuliehoward at y...> wrote:
> IMO, this is what is so brilliant about JKR's writing.  She gives us 
> many observations, behaviors, actions, but she does not give us the 
> motive, ...edited...
> 
> I thought we could start a list of observations that we have made
> for which there is no canon evidence as yet for motive. Anyone care 
> to join? 
> -Julie
> 
> 1. Why did Snape kill DD?
> 2. Why did DD trust Snape?
> 3. Why did LV kill James but said that Lily did not have to die?
> 4. Why did DD say to Petunia, "Remember my last"?


bboyminn:

1.) Why did Snape kill DD?

Because he realised that Dumbledore was already dead, or very close to
 it. 

I have to wonder if the 'dead hand' curse wasn't speading through his
body. They may have been able to keep it at bay for a while, but I
suspect it was spreading, and that in some length of time, ...weeks, 
...months, it would have killed Dumbledore. 

Because of this, I believe that Snape and Dumbledore may have had a
conversation that said, not so much that Snape should flat out kill
Dumbledore, but that Snape should seize any opportunity to maintain
his role as a DE even if it was to Dumbledore's detriment. Realizing
he was dying, Dumbledore knew he couldn't be much help, but if his
death could be given some significants, if it could be twisted to
their advantage then Snape should take that opportunity.

Next, I believe the delay in getting the antidote to the 'Locket
Horcrux' Poison was too long. Snape realized that Dumbledore was gone,
he was minutes from death, so he seized the opportunity to twist the
events to his advantage. 

2. Why did DD trust Snape?

I think we have to trust that he had his reasons. Certainly, it could
have had something to do with the Potter's life or death. Perhaps, it
was related specifically to Lily, but this is one of the great
mysteries of the story, and I don't think there is really a way to
resolve it until the last book is published.

3. Why did LV kill James but said that Lily did not have to die?

People are always looking for deep meaning here, but I think the
answer is a little more obvious and simple. 

Voldemort was at his objective, Harry, and anything else was a
distration. In a sense, Voldemort wasn't saying to Lily, for my own
special reasons I will spare you, he was simply saying 'get out of my
way, I've got better things to do than deal with you'. Not
understanding love, he couldn't imagine that no mother would ever step
aside or run away, and couldn't waste a thought on the possibility. He
was in the room with Harry, and Harry was his one vital objective, and
that's all he cared about. So, it wasn't any kind of compassion for
Lily, it was simply a matter of priorities.

4. Why did DD say to Petunia, "Remember my last"?

I'm sure it means, 'remember my last communication', whatever that
communication may have been. Whether it was the original letter with
baby Harry, or some other letter or other communication, it's
difficult to say. But I'm confident it simply means, 'remember my
last/previous communication'. 


Someone added 'the gleem' to the list, I think the 'gleem' is like
Dumbledore's trust of Snape, it's meant to be an unsolvable mystery
until the final book is published and all is revealed.

Steve/bboyminn