UV = DDM?

[Mira]

No: HPFGUIDX 140922

Juli wrote:

> > 2. Dumbledore knows about the UV, but does not  
> > tell Draco because he does not want Draco to be 
> > entirely sure that Snape  is DDM, not at this
point 
> > (in order to protect Snape if Draco does manage to
 > > become a murderer).

> I'm just curious, since you didn't add a rebuttal
> "but" clause
> to #2, exactly what is wrong with it that it doesn't
> have 
> solid merit like 1a &1c. I happen to like #2 myself,
> and 
> it's not really convoluted (though #3 is, IMO).

Mira:
Before denying that the UV took place, Dumbledore says
to Draco:

----

"I was sure it was you."

"Why didn't you stop me, then?", Malfoy demanded.

"I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping
watch over you on my orders..."

[...]

"He's a double-agent, you stupid old man, he isn't
working for you, you just think he is!"

"We must agree to differ on that, Draco. It so happens
that I trust Professor Snape -"

----

I find these pieces of information incriminating
enough for Snape. Was it necessary to provide them? I
don't think so. Dumbledore could have simply said that
he had watched over Draco closer than Draco might have
thought, or that he did not bother to stop him because
he knew he would never become a murderer. I don't
think it is logical to thrust Snape's name into the
discussion, especially in no uncertain terms, if
Dumbledore's aim was to protect Snape.

I do agree that explanation 2 is the most
straightforward. But in that case, I don't believe
that Dumbledore handled his exchange with Draco very
wisely.


> I think there is another possibility, especially if 
> Dumbledore
> is dying from the Ring Horcrux. He is running out of
>  time,
> and has to prepare Harry as best he can with
> borrowed time
> he does have left. That means Harry needs to learn
> about 
> his enemy (so Dumbledore suddenly takes a very
> active
> teaching role, showing Harry how Tom became
> Voldemort),
> Harry needs to learn about Horcruxes (so Dumbledore
> must
> get Slughorn to Hogwarts to access that memory of
> his), and
> Harry needs to learn about nonverbal spells (so
> Dumbledore
> gives Snape--the most skilled wizard he has at
> hand--the 
> DADA  position). Dumbledore has to do it all this
> school year
> because he knows he won't be around next school
> year. 


It is a very good point. I have not thought about it
before but yes, it could have been that Dumbledore
thought Snape was the best available man for the job
so he gave it to him, despite the risk.

Except I don't believe that Dumbledore was dying from
his hand injury. But even so, time is an important
resource and your explanation makes perfect sense.

  
> I'm not sure I see how this proves Dumbledore didn't
> 
> trust Snape. Again, if he figures one way or the
> other
> Snape will no longer be at Hogwarts, giving him the 
> DADA position  doesn't change that outcome. 


Suppose Snape was not given the DADA job, so in
principle he could have stayed on for an extra year.
Then nothing would have prevented Draco to kill
Dumbledore (I believe the headmaster was fully aware
of the nature of Draco's mission), and Snape could
have persuaded Minerva to open the school for the next
year and continue to deliver information to Voldemort
about Harry's movements. This, of course, supposing
Snape is not entirely ESG. I thought that Dumbledore
gave Snape the DADA job this year in order to prevent
this outcome from happening.

But I concede that your explanation is more satisfying
than mine. In which case, we are back to being able to
believe that Dumbledore's faith in Snape was as
boundless as proffered.


> But he also knew Snape was about to kill him, and I 
> have to believe his words and whatever silent 
> communication
> passed between them also addressed that fact. I
don't
> think he was telling Snape in so many words to kill 
> him,
> but encouraging Snape to do what *must* be done to 
> keep
> Harry and Hogwarts safe, i.e.--"You must strike the 
> final
> blow. I'm already dying, you can't save me, so you 
> must save yourself." (And Harry, Hogwarts, Draco, 
> etc).


All this assumes that Dumbledore knew about the UV. He
seems earnest enough to me when he tells Draco that it
did not happen, but I would appreciate it if you could
point me to some clear clues on the contrary.

Mira


	
		
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