Jets of green light (Was: Accidental Harrycrux with a Bloodsucking Snake)

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 155226

> Pippin wrote:
> > As you say, there are all sorts of other things JKR uses to show
> that Dumbledore considers Harry more important and don't set up a
> Chekhov's gun. Mentioning the possibility of such an order creates 
the
> expectation that it will be given. The order wasn't given to Harry,
> and the only other person under his command that Dumbledore spoke to
> before he died was Snape.
> 
> Carol:
> "Chekhov's gun? Is that the same as "smoking gun"? I've never heard
> the expression. (I agree with you that the order almost certainly
> relates to Snape for the reasons you stated and because such an 
order
> would go a long way toward clearing up events on the tower.)
> > 

zgirnius:
Pippin is referring to the principle credited to the Russian 
playwright Chekhov that in writing a play one should not introduce a 
loaded gun on stage in Act 1 unless someone is going to be using it 
in Act 3.

So, Dumbledore told to Harry he might order Harry to abandon him ot 
his fate. But he never gave Harry that order (the gun did not go 
off). If, however, he gave Snape such an order, the gun was used 
after all.