ESE, DDM, OFH, or Grey? (WAS: DDM!Snape the definition)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 162622

Carol earlier:
> Much as I would like to believe that DD died from the  poison and
Snape cast some other spell disguised as an AK (I do think  there was
an additional nonverbal spell that sent him over the  battlements, but
that's beside the point), his agony is only explicable if he really
killed Dumbledore against his will, for the cause, at the  expense of
his own soul and everything he had before--a  comfortable job, the
respect of the WW, the trust of the Order members, the freedom to go 
anywhere without fear of Azkaban.
> 
Nikkalmati responded:
>  
> But, Carol, Snape could be mistaken himself.  When he was fleeing
the  castle, he presumably thought DD died solely as a result of his
[SS's] mistakes  (the prophecy, taking the UV, mot healing the cursed
hand etc.).  He had no way of knowing DD had drunk the poisoned goo in
the cave.  He could see DD was in a bad way, but he had no knowledge
of what Draco might have done or where  DD might have been. When he
faced Harry, he was suffering emotional turmoil from having cast the
AK, but he may feel differently when he realizes all the circumstances. 

Carol again:
I think Snape understood exactly what was happening. He didn't know
the specific potion DD had drunk, but he did know that DD was dying
and that under the specific circumstances--the activated UV and four
DEs on the tower--that there was no saving him. He also knew that his
own choices, from joining the DEs to revealing the Prophecy to taking
the Unbreakable Vow, had led to that moment. So much easier to die
heroically and end it all rather than taking the burden of murder on
himself and, by doing so, saving the hated Harry Potter so he, not
Snape, can defeat Voldemort. 

Granted, killing Dumbledore also accomplished other things, like
saving Draco and allowing Snape under deep cover as Dumbledore wanted,
but none of them, IMO, makes up for the anguish of being the one to
commit the murder, of being regarded as a traitor and a coward instead
of praise for his courage, with the only "glory" being whatever
praise, if any, he'll receive from Voldemort, whom he hates more than
he hates Harry. I don't think Dumbledore's being poisoned makes things
any better for him (though he might, being Snape, taunt Harry with
that knowledge if he finds it out). The poison was what brought them
all to that final pass, what made it possible for Draco to disarm
Dumbledore and left the great DD, who had so easily defeated Voldemort
 in the MoM and even more easily escaped from Fudge and his minions,
at the mercy of four DEs, two of them idiots and one a mindless
maniac. (Brutal!Face Yaxley is the only one with any common sense or
sense of duty to Voldemort.)

So thinking about the poison as the proximate cause of DD's death
isn't going to give Snape any comfort. It was just one of the
circumstances that made his hated action necesary. I think the only
thing that will ease Snape's agony now is Harry's understanding that
he did what he had to do, what Dumbledore wanted him to do, and that
they have to work together to bring down Voldemort. 

Carol, seeing Snape as a tragic/ironic figure but still hoping for his
redemption and survival