Is Snape good or evil? (longer)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 148736

> Alla:
> 
> You see, that is my very main problem. Regardless of what Snape 
said 
> to DD, I cannot for the life of me to see Dumbledore EVER asking 
> Snape to do that, because IMO he would prefer Snape's soul not be 
> hurt more.
> 
> Now Tammy says:
>  
> Okay, so, Alla, let me see if I have this straight here.  You think
> Dumbledore would rather Snape be dead than hurt.  You think 
Dumbledore finds
> it preferable for Snape to die, leaving Draco to the gentle mercy 
of
> Voldemort and the Death Eaters, rather than for Snape to hurt his 
soul so
> that he can remain alive to protect and help a student.  
>  
> I can easily see Dumbledore being willing to sacrifice his own 
life for
> Snape's sake -- indeed, for the sake of just about anyone there at 
Hogwarts,
> come to think of it -- but I can NOT even begin to see Dumbledore 
being
> willing to sacrifice A STUDENT'S life for the sake of the state of 
Snape's
> soul, especially if it would also mean Snape dying as well.
>  
> Sorry, but THAT just does not make any sense at all, putting 
Snape's soul
> over and above a STUDENT'S LIFE.  After all, unless Snape made a 
Horcrux for
> himself, his torn soul would (most likely) eventually heal.  There 
can be no
> soul-healing if Snape is dead.  And how does Draco, a STUDENT, 
profit if
> he's killed by Voldemort, huh?


Alla:

My previous reply was all based on Dungrollin's argument, NOT on 
what I think happened in canon. I do NOT think that Snape told 
Dumbledore about third clause of vow almost for sure and I am 
hesitant about whether DD was told about UV at all, although he 
probably did. But I won't exclude the possibility that Snape just 
told him about Draco's task after the fact, but not about making the 
UV. As I said , Snape does not strike me as type who confesses about 
the mistakes he made easily, but who thinks that he is always right.

So, frankly, I am not sure that Dumbledore WAS pressed to make such 
a choice that far in advance. On the Tower, maybe. IMO of course.

And sure, I can see DD wanting to protect Draco despite little 
shmuck not wanting such protection and plotting to kill the 
Headmaster, I can see that.

I just don't see DD wanting Snape to kill him while trying to 
protect Draco. And the way DD was talking to Draco really really did 
not strike me as the "dead man" talking, but more like someone who 
was ready to carry out such protection.

JMO,

Alla