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

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 141424

 


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   





Julie now:
This is one of the strongest pieces of evidence to me also. I too
was struck by the fact that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape
before Snape even looked at him. What...as Snape strode toward
the Tower, Dumbledore suddenly had this unprovoked realization
that Snape was coming to kill him? After 16 years, after a few
thousand utterances of "I trust Severus Snape completely", and
after sharing who knows how many plans or how  much critical 
information with the man, NOW Dumbledore suddenly wakes up 
and recognizes the evil that is Snape? 
 
Another piece of evidence in my opinion (not ironclad proof) is  the
wording JKR used. Most of the time, if one is begging someone
else not to do something, there is usually a negative connotation.
For instance, "Please, don't..." or "Severus, no..." But in HBP we
get Dumbledore saying "Severus...please..." which tells me he is 
begging Snape to DO something, rather than to NOT do something.
"Severus...please...(You must do it. It's the only way.)"
 
One could argue Dumbledore was begging Snape to please cure
him with an antidote. But that doesn't make any sense. It's not
going to happen in front of half a dozen DEs and when Snape 
might well drop dead from the UV if he tries to help Dumbledore
rather than kill him. And that assumes Snape was able to prepare
an antidote beforehand (unlikely, since Dumbledore couldn't know
what kind of curse/potion he might be facing in the cave), since 
the antidote cure probably would require the same quick  action 
that curing Dumbledore of the ring horcrux curse required. 
 
So, I agree. If Dumbledore was in character, he would be shaking
his head sadly and giving an ESE!Snape one of  his usual "You
have failed me, but even more, you have failed yourself" speeches.
And if Snape was ESE!Snape, he would be gloating, "I put up with
your patronization for years. You really are an old fool..." or some
such. 
 
Trying to fit ESE!Snape or even OFH!Snape into the Tower scene
leaves Dumbledore and Snape acting completely out of character.
Which is just one factor that makes me  suspect DDM!Snape must
be the answer.
 
Julie 


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