Snape's penance? (was: Opposite of a Horcrux/Interesting Parallel)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 139435

Marika:
> A storyline that would appeal to me (believing in a
> dislikable/unpleasant, but not evil Snape, who has remained on
> Dumbledore's side) would be one where Dumbledore indeed did ask 
> Snape to end his (Dumbledore's) life at the Astronomy Tower. 
> Under normal circumstances a horrible request, since it would 
> split Snape's soul. But if Dumbledore would be able to transfer
> (part of) his own soul to Snape (not Harry) in "exchange"? I 
> believe this would change the picture a bit. Maybe it would have a 
> healing effect on a damaged soul as well as wounds that "run too 
> deep for the healing." (OoTP p. 735)? I would like that.
> 
> I tend to think of Snape as someone who has wasted his own and 
> ruined others life(s). But since I also see somebody (my own 
> interpretation of course) who changed sides and faced the 
> consequences of what he had done, I wish to see an ending where he 
> can go on with his life with less hatred and bitterness. 


SSSusan:
I'm not actually going to address your idea that DD might have 
transferred a portion of his own soul to Snape.  Rather, I'd like to 
go with the possibility that Snape's soul *was* ripped.

If you and I are right that DD asked Snape to kill him -- and I 
don't care if it was pre-planned in detail, pre-planned as 
a "someday this might present itself and you're going to have to do 
it" thing, or was a spur of the moment legillimency thing -- there 
are many people who have a problem with the notion of DD asking 
someone to commit murder, of asking a person to do something which 
rips his soul.  

Now, I actually happen to think (and I have no canon support, I 
know!) that it's possible that a "mercy killing" or a killing 
commanded by a superior officer in time of war just might not cause 
the soul to rip the way that a cold-blooded murder does.  But 
assuming the other folks are correct and I'm wrong -- that even this 
kind of killing DOES cause the rip -- might it not be that this 
horrible thing, this ripping of the soul, is simply the *penance* 
Snape is paying for the mistakes he's made?  

Snape was a DE.  Quite likely he participated in some pretty nasty 
actions as a DE.  He also *is* responsible for providing Voldy with 
the prophecy information that eventually led to the attack on the 
Potters at Godric's Hollow.  Many people have expressed that they 
would like to see Snape suffer, to be punished for his sins/crimes.  
Now, still assuming Loyal!Snape here, his being asked to do 
something like this -- to kill the man he, imo, cared most about in 
the world -- and to rip his own soul in the process... wouldn't that 
be the kind of suffering some people are asking for?  Wouldn't that 
be "good enough" for Snape's penance?? 

Siriusly Snapey Susan