Trusting Snape

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 149009

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> PJ:
> 
> But It's exactly the way I see it.  I can't imagine two such intelligent men 
> thinking that Dumbledore's death by Snape's hand could further Harry's goal 
> in any way.
> 
> First, Dumbledore hasn't taught Harry how to sense "where magic has been" or 
> how to tell a horcrux from an old shoe.  

Pippin:
Did Dumbledore know himself?
It looks like the ring curse caught him by surprise.
Going on about his slower reflexes and the small price he paid may have 
made us (and Voldemort) think  that it didn't, but do you
think he'd have *chosen* to sacrifice his wand hand in preference to 
the other?

Knowing where magic has been was useless in the case
of the cave. It obviously doesn't tell you where a horcrux is.

Why do you think Dumbledore involved Harry in the hunt for the horcruxes
anyway? Not for his knowledge of DADA or even his great desire to bring
Voldemort down. Harry has great reservoirs of magical power, but he
can't possibly know as much as  the aurors Tonks, Shacklebolt or Moody, 
not to mention DADA specialist Lupin. And not because of the prophecy, since 
Dumbledore gave little weight to it. 

But Dumbledore knew that Harry had managed to
find and destroy one horcrux without harm to himself. He may have 
thought that since Harry has some of Voldemort's powers, a thief's
curse on the horcruxes would mistake him for its caster and not strike.
He might have  hoped also that the Diary had not attracted Harry's
attention by chance. Harry did seem more interested in it than Ron,
even before he picked it up.

Snape is now in an excellent position to be a saboteur. Voldemort won't
trust him, but no one is going to suspect Snape spying for Dumbledore
anymore. And the other DE's will be jostling for Snape's support in their
endless internecine battles for Voldemort's favor and letting him know
all sorts of useful things about each other. You know, when Voldemort
is defeated, there will still be a whole lot of very dangerous people 
around. And Snape's going to know exactly who they are.

Pippin