A Cold Equation (was Re: The Trial Of Severus Snape)

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 141364

 
> Alla:
> 
> I am still not getting why Dumbledore's death  HAS to be 
inevitable? 
> For all we know, DD could have given antidote, IF the potion was 
> that bad and lived?

zgirnius:
Noone is denying that is a possibility. What they are suggesting is 
that Fenrir and the other three Death Eaters would not have waited 
around for someone to bring an antidote. Dumbledore was *defenseless* 
for the moment because of the potion, so the four DEs could have 
finished him.

Now, I'm going to guess your next objection..."But Snape was there, 
he could protect Dumbledore". Perhaps he is in fact skilled enough to 
hold off the other four Death Eaters until help arrives, in theory. 
But the problem is that Snape has made this pesky UV. As others 
upthread have pointed out, we don't know exactly how the death kicks 
in. I could see it not dropping Snape in his tracks while he is up 
there arguing with the DEs about next steps, now that it seems Draco 
is not up to carrying out the Dark Lord's orders. But I think it is a 
reasonable supposition that the moment he raises his wand in DD's 
defense, he dies. That is an unambiguous indication he is not going 
to keep his Vow.

I would agree that Snape has some responsibility for the situation, 
especially if he knew what Draco's task was when he took the Vow. (I 
would also submit the possibility that *Snape* agrees with you. He 
certainly does not seem to me to be particularly pleased with the way 
events turn out in the end of the book...) But while he is at least 
partially responsible, it is not clear to me that a different course 
of action at that point would have produced any better results.