Dumbledore or Snape

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 141365

I realize that i am not very good at trying to explain my strong gut
reactions against any possible so called good reason for Snape killing
Dumbledore.  Let's just say to start, 
that I am incapable of imagining any good reason for one person to kill
another person, especially when it is someone who has trusted you
implicitly, in the face of the doubt of others, someone who has probably
even loved you.  But even in general, I can't imagine any circumstances in
which I could kill another person, even if it was for the so-called greater
good.

But lest you think me just a sentimental old fool, I also can't imagine any
circumstances in which Dumbledore would want Snape, of all people, to kill
him.  With the fact that Snape was a death eater at one time, and that he
must have had to do some terrible things in those days, i cannot make myself
believe that Dumbledore would expect him to kill again.  Dumbledore, though
saying death is the next great adventure, wouldn't embark on that adventure
at the expense of another person.  Snape's psyche could be very fragile,
under the circumstances, not the person to ask to murder you.  It could
damage Snape irreparably to expect this of him.  i can't see Dumbledore
doing that.  I think the words about the act of murder splitting the soul
are there to help us to understand that Dumbledore would consider such an
act a truly terrible thing.  It really isn't about Dumbledore's eventual
future, but more of what destruction it could do to Snape, someone that
Dumbledore cares for and has worked hard to redeem from his past.  It comes
down to not forgiving Snape or not forgiving Dumbledore.  If Dumbledore did
expect Snape to commit that most horrible of deeds, then Dumbledore is most
likely as evil as Voldemort, though in a different way.  

So, yes, I may be a sentimental old fool, but in a way, it's because of
Snape's past, and Dumbledore's belief in his change of heart, that makes me
incapable of believing Dumbledore would expect or allow Snape to kill him.
It would be as bad a crime as Snape's actions.  

And as for the idea of murder ripping the soul, and was it really murder if
it was for the "greater good", many soldiers come away from war with
terrible psychological injuries because of what they've had to do.  police
officers have a tragically high suicide rate, because of the horrors they
have to face.  Even if it's only metaphorical, I believe murder, or taking a
person's life for any reason, does damage a person severely.  Only someone
with no soul or conscience if you prefer, could do such a thing unscathed.
Would Dumbledore inflict that on Snape who must already have damage to his
psyche from his past?  i just don't believe it.  No greater good can be
worth that.  It's not the way I read Dumbledore, to think that he would
stoop so low.

Sherry