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

[kiricat4001]

No: HPFGUIDX 139491

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:
<snip>
> 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?? 

Marianne:

An interesting idea.  But, are you suggesting that this idea of 
penance played a part in whatever discussions/communication that DD 
and Snape had with regards to the possible necessity of Snape 
killing DD? Or is this something that might occur to Snape after the 
fact, that he has damaged his soul but can accept that to pay for 
the wrongs he's done, whatever they may be?

It seems to me that what is missing in this scenario is Snape's 
acknowledgement that he has committed wrongs in the first place, 
which need to be atoned for.  Yes, he gave DD the story about his 
remorse over the death of the Potters, but I have a problem with 
accepting that at face value.  Perhaps whatever else is part of that 
story, which DD was obviously unwilling to share with Harry, 
involves something that Snape truly regrets and would willingly harm 
his soul for in an act of penance.  

The other thing I just thought of is who would suggest soul-
splitting as penance.  If Snape willingly took this on, it would 
suggest to me that he did it for all the right reasons.  And, to 
answer your question, yes, that would be good enough for me for 
Snape's penance.  However, if the suggestion came from DD, I'd be 
uncomfortable as to why he was the spiritual judge and jury for 
Snape's soul.  I suppose it could have been done in typical 
Dumbledorian manner, where he wouldn't insist that killing him would 
be a suitable penance for Snape, but just that this possibility 
might be something for Snape to consider, thus leaving the ultimate 
decision in Snape's hands.  

OTOH, this seems like a lot to process in the few minutes they had 
together on the tower, so I would think that this is a topic 
discussed and pondered over at some point in time well before DD's 
death.  

Marianne, who's still relatively, sort of firmly in the OFH!Snape 
camp