What would a successful AK mean?

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 142895


> 
> Jen: You know, gut instinct aside about the tower scene, I've been 
> thinking about another Snape option, Grey!Snape lets call him, in 
> honor of his underpants. 
> 
> The idea of Dumbledore trusting in Snape's ultimate goodness is the 
> key to this guy. Dumbledore doesn't completely trust Snape the DE, 
> the man who joined Voldemort, but he does trust Severus Snape, his 
> former student and the person who turned from Voldemort for some 
> still partially shrouded reason.
 [SNIP explanation that is so concise, I couldn't find any extraneous
stuff to cut!]
> 
> I like this scenario because OFH!Snape has always lacked a motive 
> for me and DDM!Snape is hard because of the UV and well, that minor 
> problem of explaining why he killed Dumbeldore. I do lean toward DDM 
> still, but can conceive of a more multi-faceted character, one who 
> does truly switch sides, gives in to temptation again, and finally 
> finds the strength inside through his *own* belief, not just 
> Dumbledore believing in him when he didn't believe in himself (i.e. 
> the forest argument).

Sydney:

There's two issues with OFH! or Grey Snape, one major and one minor. 
The minor one is that Dumbledore would pretty much have to be lying
when he says "I am certain.  I trust Severus Snape absolutely", when
what he means is "you know, so long as I have total control over him,
he's okay, I mean, I hope he's okay, but let me tell you, off the
leash he's pretty iffy".  "Absolute trust" is not a phrase with a lot
of wiggle room.

The larger objection is a wavering, agonizing, side-switching Snape is
just such a massive focus-puller.  It would make Snape, not Harry,
making all the critical choices and going through the most interesting
 emotions at the end of the book.  Story-wise I'm much happier having
Snape running down a pretty clear, straightforward track, and Harry
doing all the mind-changing.  For this reason I would prefer
Evil!Snape to conflicted!Snape, because much as I'd rather read a book
about Snape, this ain't it.