Snape as coward and other responses

[Abigail Eire]

No: HPFGUIDX 135762


>Marisa writes:
>But where is it ever indicated that DD would have become aware
>of Snape's betrayal in those moments before his death. DD
>pleads, "Severus.." from the moment that Snape walks through
>the door. Just doesn't seem likely that Snape's appearance on
>the rooftop was proof to DD that Snape's loyalties lay with the
>DE's.
>
>Julie responded:
>This is a very good point. Harry hears pleading in DD's voice
>when DD first whispers "Severus." At this point Snape has just
>walked up, and hasn't even looked at DD. At which point DD
>has no reason to suddenly think that Snape has switched sides
>and no reason to start pleading for his life/pleading for Snape
>not to throw away his own life. Hence DD can only be
>pleading for Snape to do something DD's *already* wants/
>expects Snape to do before Snape ever starts to take any
>action whatsoever.
>
>I'm having a hard time reading it any other way. It could
>be a timing error on JKR's part, but she is pretty careful
>with her writing (other than things involving maths) as we
>saw with how carefully she worded the prophecy.


I apologize that I am responding to something more than a week old, but I am 
having hard time keeping up with all of you!  LOL

I wanted to add my thoughts when I first read this part in the book.

Dumbledore's plea, to me, seemed to be an echo of when Lupin wanted to see 
Snape for the potion he provided (sorry, no reference page at the moment).  
At the beginning of chapter 27, when Harry tells Dumbledore they need to get 
him to Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore replies, "No, it is Professor Snape whom I 
need".  Later, after seeing the Death Mark, Dumbledore tells Harry, "Go, and 
wake Severus.  Tell him what has happened, and bring him to me."

Of course, this still doesn't say specifically that Dumbledore is requesting 
a *potion* from Snape, but as I said, this is what I read between the lines 
(yes, I admit that I read the book first for entertainment value, before 
analyzing it further!)

So, as purposely leading as JKR can be, I just assumed that the plea from 
Dumbledore and the calling of his name was more in anticipation of relief 
than a plea for his life, and didn't even entertain that it was a plea for 
Snape to reconsider anything.

If DD and SS *did* conspire, then that would still hold true!

~abi