Dumbledore's pleading/What Horcruxes Dumbledore and Harry destroyed?

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 141661

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:

> Pippin:
> The blood needs to be explained because it contradicts something 
> we've been told: AK doesn't cause any sign of damage. If the 
> explanation is that the AK killed him and Dumbledore bled 
> posthumously, that doesn't move the plot forward. It's dramatically 
> dead. If the explanation is that the AK didn't work for some 
> reason, that moves the plot away from Guilty!Snape.

I guess my reaction to the 'not moving the plot forward' based on 
that detail is: so what?  There are lots of other ways to move the 
plot forward that don't rely upon that detail.  Not everything is 
dramatically relevant.  You've made a good case for how this detail 
could be sufficient for a result, but you can't make a case for 
necessity.

> Pippin:
> *Nice*?  "If you are ready...if you are prepared." Whatever Snape 
> was in for that night,  nice had nothing to do with it. 
> And Fudge showed no sign of wanting to throw Snape into Azkaban, 
> either, so what trouble was Snape trying to stay out of there?

I don't credit Snape with the kind of foresight which many listies 
want to give to both him and Dumbledore.  He likes his position as it 
is, but he surely doesn't know exactly what is coming in the future.  
Staying at Hogwarts is a vantage point for observation, and one which 
(as he notes) has benefits no matter what he has to do.  For 
instance, he himself tells us about all the information he has to 
give Boss Voldie when he shows back up.  Unless he's lying, of 
course.  But arguably *preferable* to be in that situation, 
positioned and with both information and explanations, than to run 
like Karkaroff (and end up dead).  It's probably been a preferable 
interim for him than elsewhere, as well.  Hogwarts is insulated.  
Sure, Lucius Malfoy is on the board of governors until he screws up, 
so Snape has to deal with him, but other than that he has (I could 
argue) less contact with his former comrades-in-arms.

Hogwarts is protected.  Dumbledore is a very powerful patron.  All 
bets only go off once the conflict starts up again--and Snape is in a 
unique position to see both sides of things.

-Nora notes that one weakness of utilitarian arguments is the 
subjective estimation of harm and benefit...