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

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 141381

 
> Alla:
> 
 
> And I am saying that if DD was helpless from potion but could 
> recover from it, it increases Snape liability very significantly to 
> me, because it would mean that " but for Snape actions" Dumbledore 
> could have survived  the Tower.

Hickengruendler:

I really don't think Dumbledore would have recovered from the Potion 
just like that. He grew weaker and weaker on the tower, not stronger. 
If, (and that's IMO a big if, since I still think it's a hint that 
JKR told us earlier in the book, that there are Potions for which no 
antidotes exist), there was a chance for Dumbledore to recover, than 
only through an antidote. And I think this really is Canon, otherwise 
there would be no sense for Dumbledore to ask for Snape, after they 
returned from the cave. Either he wanted Snape to kill him, because 
he knew the Potion was going to do it anyway, or he wanted Snape to 
save him through an antidote. He did not expect to simply recover 
from the Potion, and he has enough magical knowledge that I trust him 
here completely. (Not to mention that it wouldn't make any sense for 
Voldie to use such an comparatively harmless Potion). And it is a sad 
fact, that Snape didn't have an antidote with him, when he appeared 
on the Tower. Therefore what should he have told the Death 
Eaters? "Great that you caught him. Now please wait a moment. I have 
to fetch *erm* something. Please don't harm him. I mean ... not yet. 
I want to be there to see it as well." Doesn't seem very likely to 
me. And even more unlikely is the thought, that after his return with 
the antidote the DE's would simply let him through and letting him 
feed Dumbledore with some potion thingy, if it is much easier to kill 
him with an AK. Not to mention that we don't know if Snape would even 
be able to give the antidote to AD, without dropping dead while 
trying to do so.
 
> Alla:
 
> The way I see it, Snape DID have options on the Tower. He could 
have 
> use his Patronus for example and send emergency message to other 
> Order members who were close enough. 

Hickengruendler:

And how should they make it on the tower? First of all, they were 
fighting Death Eaters. It probably wasn't that easy for them to get 
away. And even if, they couldn't break the barrier (Neville and Lupin 
tried and failed) and it's not that easy to summon a broom while 
fighting for your life. (Well, I assume ;-) ). 
 
But there's another reason, why I consider Snape to be on the good 
side, which has nothing to do with Snape but all with Dumbledore. I 
have already adressed this earlier, but haven't seen an answer to it. 
(Doesn't mean there wasn't any answer, I haven't read any Snape 
related post the last months). I simply cannot see Dumbledore begging 
for his life. And I refuse any exception that has him doing this. 
This is the man who said "Death is nothing but the next great 
adventure" and told Tom that it was his biggest mistake to think 
there's nothing more than death. Have him begging for his life in the 
minute, where it really is on stack, simply would negitate this. This 
is why I'm also not satisfied with OFH!Snape and your otherwise 
really great theory, that Snape simply thought killing Dumbledore 
would be the least bad solution (a theory, with which I otherwise 
very well might have agreed). It does not explain Dumbledore's 
reaction to me. Lupinlore talked about bad writing in other posts. 
Well, for me, the worst writing would be Dumbledore begging for his 
life, or even generally pleading in a whimpy voice to any villain 
(even if the idendity of that villain took him by surprise). You have 
seen how he spoke to Voldemort in OotP and to the other DE's on the 
tower. The reaction of the Dumbledore I knew, if he realized Snape 
had betrayed him, would be: "Well, Severus, I must admit I was 
mistaken in you. It's really a pity that you threw away your chance 
like that". (Not to mention that he already starts pleading, before 
Snape even raises his wand).

Hickengruendler