Was Snape asleep? (was Re: What Came First: Task or Cabinet?...

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 157813

Sydney:
> -- Ring curse.  Snape saves Dumbledore, but, either because of 
the 'stoppered death' theory (Dumbledore is effectively dead but 'held' 
alive by some crazy potion or something), or because of Eggplant's 
Horcrux Theory of Genius (the bit of Voldemort's soul glommed onto D-
dore's hand when the ring was destroyed), Snape and Dumbledore both 
know that Dumbledore will die in the near future.  This is consistent 
with Dumbledore's 'wrapping it up' tone throughout the book.

Ceridwen:
I agree with most of your post, so I snipped it.  Seems to make sense 
with everything on the page.  I don't see any reason, though, why it 
should be either 'stoppered death' *or* Eggplant's Horcrux Theory of 
Genius.  It could be both.  Snape gives DD the 'stoppered death' to 
stop the spread of the LV soul-piece, which has already killed his hand.

We do know that LV's core soul-piece killed when it possessed animals 
as he flited through the wilds of Albania.  It is possible to assume 
that a soul-piece which is not the core would do the same thing to any 
living creature it inhabits.  Something that 'stoppers death' would 
halt that progression, though it wouldn't negate it.

Though it is all speculation until we find out the real deal in book 7, 
it makes sense to me.

Ceridwen.