Trial of Severus Snape - WAS Re: Harry IS Snape.

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 141316

 
> Sherry now:
> 
> Well, here's the difference for me.  First of all, i admit, I have a bias
> for life in all situations.  
> 
> LOTR spoilers coming.
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> 
> For me, my feelings can probably best be described by comparing Dumbledore's
> death to Gandalf's supposed death.  In Fellowship of the Ring, the book,
> Gandalf gave his life defending the bridge against the Ballrog.  None of the
> fellowship came over and shoved him off the bridge in order to save the rest
> of the gang.  In fact, Aragorn and Boromir tried to come to aid him.  
> 

Pippin:
The question is not whether Aragorn and Boromir would have aided
Gandalf if they could, or shoved him off the bridge for no reason, 
but whether they would have blown up the bridge themselves, with 
Gandalf on it, to save Frodo. 

There's no question that they would, or at least, we know what Boromir's 
and Faramir's men did to Boromir and Faramir themselves in order to  
defend Gondor:  "I was in the company that  held the bridge *until it was 
cast down behind us.* Four only were saved by swimming; my brother and 
myself and two others" (LOTR:The Council  of Elrond, emphasis mine)

What Snape and Dumbledore faced on the tower was a classic triage
situation. There were three innocents in jeopardy from the Death Eaters:
Harry, who would probably escape without help, Dumbledore who
might well be beyond mortal aid  and  Draco, who might escape with  
timely intervention but probably not  without it. 

We don't know whether Snape could be sure that Dumbledore was
beyond help, we don't know whether Snape killed Dumbledore or
only pretended to... but there probably wasn't any solution that would 
save both Dumbledore and Draco. In those situations in real life, if, 
say, there was only one operating room, or time to pull only one person 
from the burning car,  the child's life  would get priority.


Pippin