Snape Survey, Snapeity, Dumbledore's sacrifice.

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 149107


> "Sydney" <sydpad@> wrote:
> > I honestly have no idea how the tower
> > scene can be read in any other way after,
> > I suppose, the initial shock if you didn't
> > expect it) than that Dumbledore is pleading
> > with Snape to follow through with some
> > plan and kill him.
Eggplant:
> To me the obvious explanation is that Dumbledore was pleading with
> Snape to tell him he had not been a fool for 17 years.

Me again:

Okay.  Look.  Here's the text, right?  I'm even going type out every
darn word for you:



"Draco, do it or stand aside so one of us--" screeched the woman, but
at that precise moment, the door to the ramparts burst open once more
and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes
swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four
Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.

"We've got a problem, Snape" said the lumpy Amicus, whose eyes and
wand were fixed alike on Dumbledore, "The boy doesn't seem able--"

But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly.

"Severus..."

The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all
evening.  For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.

Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out
of the way.  The three Death Eaters fell back without a word.  Even
the werewolf seemed cowed [OMG he's so cool.. cough.. moving on].

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and
hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

"Severus... please..."

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.

"Avada Kedavra!"



Now, just, what, a couple of hours before this? JKR plugs once again
Dumbledore's opinion of Snape-- "I am sure.  I trust Severus Snape
completely."  Now, lets not even ask ourselves if he has a good reason
or anything.  

JKR had to insert only ONE LINE that would make me finish the book
saying, rats, Snape was a villain after all.  Here we go:



"Draco, do it or stand aside so one of us--" screeched the woman, but
at that precise moment, the door to the ramparts burst open once more
and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes
swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four
Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.

"We've got a problem, Snape" said the lumpy Amicus, whose eyes and
wand were fixed alike on Dumbledore, "The boy doesn't seem able--"

But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly.

"Severus..."  Dumbledore began.  Then he stopped.  

"Severus..." he said again, but his voice was different this time. The
sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening.
 For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.



Can you spot the difference?

You need the transition.  You. Need. The. Transition.  YOU NEED THE
TRANSITION.  If you don't have a beat for Dumbledore to CHANGE, the
Dumbledore that is pleading with Snape IS THE SAME DUMBLEDORE THAT
TRUSTS HIM COMPLETELY.  (suddenly I'm thinking the reason JKR uses
capslock so much is that she hasn't figured out how to do italics in
her word processor).

Or she could even have left it ACTUALLY ambiguous, where you really
could go either way:  



"Draco, do it or stand aside so one of us--" screeched the woman, but
at that precise moment, the door to the ramparts burst open once more
and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes
swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four
Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.

"We've got a problem, Snape" said the lumpy Amicus, whose eyes and
wand were fixed alike on Dumbledore, "The boy doesn't seem able--"

But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly.

"Severus..." said Dumbledore.

Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out
of the way.  The three Death Eaters fell back without a word.  Even
the werewolf seemed cowed [OMG he's so cool.. cough.. moving on].

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and
hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

"Severus... please..."

The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all
evening.  For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.

"Avada Kedavra!"




Now this really would be 'ambiguous'.  

Or, you know, mabye Rowling is just not a very good writer!  Maybe she
just, you know, forgot!  It happens to everybody!

[scene:  interior.  day.  March 2006.  JKR is doing her ironing]
JKR:  Do dee do dee do...
[suddenly, she freezes]
JKR:  OMG!! I forgot to write the transition from Dumbledore trusting
Snape to realizing he's going to kill him!!
[slaps forehead]
[forgets she's holding iron]
JKR:  GHAAAA!!!

[scene:  interior.  day.  burn ward]
Doctor:  So what exactly happened, ma'am?
JKR:  I don't. Want. To talk about it.

-- Sydney, eyeing growing stack of undone work.  eyeing lovely day
outside.  eyeing internet.  ghaaaaaa...