Snape's Final Straw

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 150857

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "gelite67" <gelite67 at ...> wrote:

> 1) How do you think JKR will reveal Snape's true 
>    character in Book 7?

houyhnhnm:

Okay, I'm not ready to put *money* on it, but I have begun to consider
the possibility that DD is not really dead.  When this is revealed
along with the means by which the ruse was carried out, Snape will be
shown conclusively to be on the side of good.  We may then learn more
of the back story, why Snape defected to the Dark side, why he
"returned to our side", and why Dumbledore trusted him so completely.

I do think Dumbledore will die before the end of book 7, but it will
be a death more befitting "the greatest wizard of modern times".
  
> 2) If Snape is really DD's man, what will it take to 
>    convince Harry and the rest of the Order?

houyhnhnm:

If Dumbledore's death was faked, some members of the Order may already
be in on it.  Harry must be deceived of course because of the
Voldemort connection, but there may be a few select others who are
part of the plot.

As for Harry, I don't think any objective evidence (other than seeing
DD alive, which he must not be allowed to do) would change his mind
about Snape.  I think it will take an epiphany which will hinge on his
having his mother's eyes.  Harry will see Snape, literally, with
Lily's eyes (as he was able to see the glosses in the potions
textbook).  At the same time, Snape will see Lily's eyes in Harry,
where before he was only able to see James.

> 3) Will Snape take Draco to LV, given that he made 
     the unbreakable vow to protect Draco?

houyhnhnm:

"Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to
fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?"

"And will you, to best of your ability, protect him from harm?"

Because of the presence of the conjunction at the beginning of the
second question, I see it as being modified, like the first, by "as he
attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes".  I think Snape is off the
hook with repect to the vow, however I don't imagine him taking Draco
to Voldemort, more likely to his mother.  Then Snape will have to face
Voldemort with an explanation for how *he* got mixed up in the
business.  I'm sure it will be up to his usual standards.