Love, not a spy, the key (was Re: Debatable ethical issues)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 142547



Pippin:

> Why can't it be both? Sure, Slytherins need to acknowledge the 
power of
> love. But we saw what an absolute botch Sirius made of the seekrit-
keeper
> switch. He could have used a little Snakey advice. 
> 

Now Lupinlore:

I tend to agree strongly with Nora on this one.  However, the fact is 
that how you come down on this one depends on what you would find 
believable or unbelievable, good writing or bad.

The emphasis on love seems to me to be the dominant theme of the 
series, and it would be unimaginable that this will not be the key to 
the whole outcome.  Like Nora, I think this will be the downfall of 
Voldemort, not a spy or a plot of Dumbledore's.  I also tend to think 
that love, or lack thereof, will also be the final word in the 
character arcs of Draco, Peter, and Snape.  Any plot twists or last 
minute revelations of the type often proposed would tend to detract 
from that emphasis, and threaten dangerously to undermine the series 
as Harry's story.  This is one reason I think OFH!Snape (or, perhaps, 
a fallen DDM!Snape) is the best literary device, as it allows the 
most leeway for the power of love to make itself felt in a way that 
keeps the focus firmly on Harry (i.e. not threatening to make Snape 
the hero of the series) while bringing Snape's character arc to a 
relatively neat end.

As for the details of who did what to whom, well I will probably give 
myself a hernia laughing in derision if JKR pulls some contrived and 
unbelievable twist to get Snape into the clear and/or to emphasize 
some kind of spy plot cooked up by Snape and Dumbledore.  
Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised to need hernia repair after 
JKR's incredibly poor performance in sweeping most of OOTP's themes 
firmly under the rug.  


Lupinlore