The blackened hand again

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 148958

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, juli17 at ... wrote:
>]]
>  
> Combine that dead hand with Dumbledore's actions from the beginning
> of HBP--taking the Dursleys to task for their treatment of Harry  
while
> also asking them to take Harry in one more time (as if he can't  be 
sure
> he'll have an opportunity to do either later), going after the 
memory
> Slughorn has always had *now*, giving Snape the DADA position when
> he knows Snape cannot overcome the curse (a normal wizard can't 
> survive it intact, let alone a double-agent already walking a  
tightrope),
> and suddenly taking a direct role in teaching Harry everything he  
can
> about Tom's past and destroying horcruxes--it's as if Dumbledore 
> knows he has limited time. And I think he does know, not  because
> he expects Snape to kill him, but because he knew since Snape 
> saved him from the ring curse--not cured him, but "saved" him--that
> he was living on borrowed time.

I agree that the Dead Hand is very significant.  It points to 
something about the DD/Snape relationship we haven't yet seen.  
Having said that, we also have to remember that DD isn't just any 
character, he is also a walking plot device.  He is used by JKR to 
give info dumps to the readers.  There was a lot of stuff JKR needed 
to get to the readers, and she knew that DD wouldn't be around 
anymore to do it.  The stuff with the Dursleys and Tom Riddle may 
have been no more than that (i.e. the author's knowledge that she was 
about to lose a plot device, not a character's knowledge that he was 
going to die).

This also runs afoul of the problem of a moronic Dumbledore.  
Dumbledore has already learned a hard lesson about witholding 
information from Harry.  Why is he witholding this important piece of 
information?  One would think he would want to be honest about this 
to prepare Harry for what is to come.  And one would especially think 
that, if DD knew he was going to die, he would want to work actively 
to repair the breach between Snape and Harry.  Of course, DD has 
acted like a moron before, so this may be just another example.

As I said above, I agree with your main point, that there is 
something going on here with the hand and DD's insistance on seeing 
Snape immediately on returning to Hogwarts.  It does seem likely that 
Snape is somehow stabilizing/helping DD.  But why the secrecy about 
that?  Why doesn't he just tell Harry, "Harry, you should trust 
Professor Snape because he used the 'x' ritual to save my life at 
great expense to himself?"  Why does Dumbledore constantly put off 
discussing the details of what happened and what Snape did?  Why not 
give Harry enough information to know, when push comes to shove, why 
it may be imperative for DD to get to Snape in certain situations?

One possibility is that Snape is not entirely glad about whatever it 
is he has to do.  Perhaps it is very dangerous for him?  Perhaps he 
sees this as yet another example of the way in which Dumbledore holds 
his life second to other concerns?  Perhaps this is what DD and Snape 
were arguing about? Perhaps the revulsion and hatred on Snape's face 
indicate he feels he has been misused?  It seems like a stretch, I 
know.  But I keep coming back to the question of why doesn't 
Dumbledore just be honest with Harry about this and give Harry a 
concrete reason to trust Snape?  Because he's afraid to blow Snape's 
cover if Voldy uses legilimency?  We're back to Manipulative!DD at 
that point, an image of the old man that hasn't done so very well the 
last little while.

I have to admit, I haven't run across an explanation for the argument 
in the woods that is entirely convincing, and the reason is this -- 
DD tells Snape he promised to do it, and he will do it, and now Snape 
is supposed to conduct the search within his own house.  If, as many 
people propose, they were talking about Snape killing DD, and if 
Snape had been totally honest about the UV, why the part about 
searching in his own house?  It's totally unnecessary, since they 
already KNOW where the danger almost certainly lies.  For that 
matter, the remark seems unnecessary regardless of what they were 
discussing and whether DD knew about the third clause of the UV.  The 
two of them are alone, they know about Draco's mission, and there is 
no reason for either of them to be coy.  Of course Snape is going to 
concentrate on his own house.  And there is no reason for Dumbledore 
not to come out and say "Especially keep an eye on Draco Malfoy."


Lupinlore


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