On the topic of lifedebts

[colebiancardi]

No: HPFGUIDX 142394

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Bee Chase <luckdragon64 at y...> wrote:
>
> > colebiancardi wrote:
> >
> > I don't think DD had a lifedebt to Snape, nor do I believe Snape
> has
> > a lifedebt to DD.  Lifedebts seem to be a very strange nature - it
> > isn't just saving the life of someone, it seems to be saving the
> life
> > of someone at a) great risk to yourself and b) so far, saving
> someone
> > whom you don't care about at all <eg>  At what point did DD or
> Snape
> > put themselves in great risk to *save* one another?  We haven't
> read
> > or heard about it, so I doubt that.  Harry saving Ginny in CoS did
> > not result in Ginny owning a lifedebt to Harry.  The only lifedebts
> > JKR speaks of is Snape to James and Peter to Harry.
> >
> > I actually believe that Draco owes Snape a lifedebt now - after the
> > UV and all.  If, of course, the UV supercedes lifedebts, as if you
> > break the UV, you will die yourself(isn't that at great risk to
> > yourself?<big g>).  I wonder if a UV cancels out lifedebts....hmmmm
> >
> > Luckdragon:
> >
> > I do not think Snape owes a lifedebt to DD. But if OFH Snape saved
> DD. I think he would be at risk if LV found out, and if he is OFH he
> would not likely really have feelings for DD, therefore DD may have
> owed Snape a lifedebt. I think the idea that a lifedebt is only
> created in a situation where the person saves someone he dislikes at
> great personal risk is a very interesting idea.
>
colebiancardi:

sorry, listelves - I reposted the original post, because the original
subject line was not included in this post.  I don't even remember
where I posted this idea in the first place!!  Please forgive :)

I stated those 2 conditions because the only lifedebts we are sure
about and know about are Snape's lifedebt to James and Peter's to
Harry.  I think we can safely assume that Snape dislikes(hates,
loathes) James and James disliked(hated, loathed) Snape.  And James,
according to DD, saved Snape's life at great personal risk to himself.  

Harry and Peter.  Well, I think that Harry dislikes Peter, for the
obvious reason - Peter betrayed his parents and his parents died.  And
Harry did place himself in danger, by putting himself in front of
Pettigrew and Lupin's and Sirius's wands - they were about to kill Peter.

In both cases, neither James or Harry were in any danger if they
decided not to do anything about the person.  James could have stayed
behind in Hogwarts and let Snape get hurt or die.  Harry could have
let Lupin & Sirius kill Peter, and he(Harry) would not have been harmed.

So, those are the only two examples we have.  Rowling did state that
Ginny did not owe Harry a lifedebt, even though he saved her life.  I
don't have the exact quote in front of me, but I believe it went
something like since Harry was in danger himself, it didn't count(or
something like that).

It could be that someone you like owes you a lifedebt, but I don't
think it would be as strong as saving someone you really disliked, as
you could just walk away(as your life is not in any danger)

I don't think either Snape or DD owe each other a lifedebt, but that
is just due to the nature of the two characters.  However, I am
curious if Draco owes Snape a lifedebt now.  I wonder if the
Unbreakable Vow nulls that out - Snape could have died, he could have
turned his back on Draco.  But Snape did save Draco.  I really don't
think Snape *likes* Draco all that much - the whole scene on the Tower
where he roughly and shoved Draco out of the way - he grabbed him
after DD fell off the tower.  Just seems if one likes someone, they
wouldn't manhandle them like that.  Or at least that is how I read it.
 I wonder if any of the other posters have any thoughts on Snape,
Draco, Unbreakable Vows and does that mean they null out a lifedebt or
not?

but I am glad someone responded to my post.  I guess it got lost in
the posts.

colebiancardi