Good reasons for DD to die ( was Could I be wrong about Snape being evil) long

[katssirius]

No: HPFGUIDX 156581

I reluctantly came to the conclusion that no matter where Snape's
loyalties lie, Dumbledore had to die.  In the first weeks after HBP
was released I spent a lot of time thinking about this as a way of
managing my grief over his death. As I see it there are three
possible scenarios:

•	Dumbledore knew nothing about the unbreakable vow or the
plan to attack Hogwarts.

•	Dumbledore knew about Draco's plan to murder him but not
about the unbreakable vow.

•	Finally Dumbledore knew everything from Severus Snape.

If the first were true then we can assume Snape is loyal to
Voldemort in just the way he explains to Bellatrix and Narcissa.
His actions in the tower make sense in every way.  Draco was going
to fail.  Snape stepped up and finished the job, leaving his post as
Voldemort's spy at the last possible moment.  Snape takes out the
biggest obstacle to Voldemort's return to power.  Sure there is
something about Harry but really Dumbledore is the big threat to
Voldemort.  JKR has shocked us with the murder, confused us with
Dumbledore's loyalty to Snape, but not surprised us that a man who
has consistently been portrayed as a villain is, in fact, a
villain.  How could we be so blind?

If the second is true then Severus shared with Dumbledore Draco's
mission to kill the headmaster but did not share his own duplicity.
Snape is keeping himself safe by playing both sides.  Should things
go badly he will try to find some way to protect Draco, salvage his
own secure position in everyone's good graces, and manage to beat
the unbreakable vow on a technicality.   Severus is a man whose
loyalties are second to taking care of himself.  His anxiety over
Draco's refusal to share his plans is understandable for a man who
needs to keep two sides happy while saving his own skin.  Hagrid
overhears Snape's attempt to stall Dumbledore without actually
refusing to help him.

So Snape is surprised to learn that Malfoy has managed to get Death
Eaters into Hogwarts.  He does not kill Flitwick or Hermione and
Luna because he may still be able to salvage the situation.  He is
safe from Voldemort in Hogwarts and safe from Dumbledore as an Order
of the Phoenix spy.  Snape runs to the tower and evaluates the
situation.  He sees Malfoy failing, he sees enough Death Eaters to
kill Dumbledore and Snape and still one of them might make it back
to tell the tale to Voldemort.  His fate as a traitor to Voldemort
is sealed if he chooses to help Dumbledore.  The headmaster may
believe in second chances but Voldemort does not.  Defusing the
situation was never a possibility once the additional Death Eaters
entered to Tower.  Severus takes out a weakened Dumbledore.
Dumbledore can no longer protect him and the safest place to be is
with the strongest wizard alive.  Severus' loyalty is proven beyond
a doubt to everyone, since Snape will have dispatched the only
wizard that Voldemort ever feared.  He leaves Harry probably on
Voldemort's orders but more likely to make his and Draco's escape
that much cleaner.  The Order of the Phoenix without Dumbledore is
not as safe a refuge.  Snape is forced to show his hand and had the
circumstances been in Dumbledore's favor would have made different
decisions for the same reasons.  Severus Snape protects himself
first, second, and last.  This character sounds a little too much
like a Pettigrew rerun to me.

The third possibility is I admit the one I believe.  Dumbledore knew
everything and Severus was completely open with him.  Severus no
longer wanted to be a double agent and this was the overheard
conversation.  This thankless and dangerous role was becoming too
much for him.  At the same time we know that Dumbledore is willing
to die to destroy even a piece of Voldemort. Although not foolhardy
he is clearly risking his life to destroy the horcruxes.  Dumbledore
errs by expecting only the best from those he loves and respects
which is not the same as being blind to a double cross.
Dumbledore's other error is he does not tell anyone anything.  Just
as Sirius tells the twins in OOTP there are some things worth dying
for.  Dumbledore would believe that the Order of the Phoenix would
recognize the value of Snape's position with Voldemort.  Dumbledore
would think that the order could survive without him but not without
a spy as well placed as Snape.  Albus was close to death when they
returned and chose to negotiate for Draco's soul and the Malfoys'
safety rather than save himself.  No matter how weak he appears to
Harry this was the only man Voldemort ever feared.  Protecting
himself from Draco and a few DE losers was possible even if Harry
and JKR do not tell us how he could have done it.  Remember Harry is
never the best witness to motivations.

Severus Snape is surprised by the Death Eaters' presence in the
castle.  He could not warn anyone.  He was held by an unbreakable
vow with Narcissa and for all we know he may have had another one
with Dumbledore.   JKR describes Severus as being in horrible pain
as he leaves the scene of the murder.  Why?  She purposely allows a
meaningful but silent exchange between the two wizards.  Why?
Severus does not take Harry with him even though Harry is no match
for Snape.  Why?  JKR does not write main characters that are one
dimensional.  Severus is the only main character whose motivations
are unknown.  Snape is second only to the trio for appearances in
the books and therefore must have the dimensions of an excellent
main character including feelings that the reader understands.
Snape appears to be bad tempered and cruel without reason.  This
alone should alert us.  We may be leaping to conclusions.  JKR loves
to trap her readers into judging a character's actions on too little
information.  She caught me with Sirius however I am not falling for
that one again.

Dumbledore had to die in that tower no matter whose side Snape was
on.  Its necessity has been pointed out in traditional story telling
as necessary for the hero to rely on his own resources.  Severus did
not have a win/win choice.  Dumbledore could not have been saved and
the Order would not have been served by any sacrifices on Snape's or
Harry's part.  Harry is willing to sacrifice himself at the close of
OOTP while in the MoM and again in HBP while dueling with Snape as
an exit from a painful event.  He is an adolescent guided by passion
and anger.  Dumbledore and Snape view sacrifice like a game of
chess. You give up a valuable player to turn the game in your favor,
not as a grand gesture.  Serving up the most powerful piece on the
board, the Queen, is an excellent way of luring an opponent out into
the open an exposing their weaknesses.

Thanks for your patience on this one.
katssirus