Snape's death scene

[krista7]

No: HPFGUIDX 174056


> > Krista:
> > Oh, I think Snape was indeed prepared--and his "preparation"
> > was a decision to stick with his cover, to try to deny
> > anything that would alert Voldemort's suspicions, and *then*
> > to get himself out alive, if possible.
> 
> Jack-A-Roe:
> His cover? The final battle is being fought right outside the
> door. If the good guys lose there is no regrouping

The phrase "final battle" is hindsight. All Snape knows is a 
major battle is shaping up at Hogwarts, and Harry is 
somewhere out there. (He already believes Harry was
actually in the castle earlier.)  

> Knowing this and knowing that he must get this last piece of
> information to Harry he decides to do nothing but die? If this
> is a man who has been guarding Lilly's son, are you saying that
> he's just going to quit?

No. I am saying quite the opposite. I am saying he deliberately
chooses to maintain his position as a double agent, rather than 
dropping his cover and potentially destroying Harry's cause 
by revealing information about Dumbledore's planning/Order info. 

If he starts to run, if he strikes
out at Voldemort, Voldemort will know Snape did turn on him.
Voldemort will then extract from Snape any info he likes, and
use that against Hogwarts and Harry. Snape's ultimate goal--
the security of Harry and his side--will therefore be lost. What
good is it for Harry to know of Dumbledore's plan, if Voldemort knows
it as well? 
 
> I think he just froze up for a minute. He's gotten out of most
> situations in the past by his wit/words or by being a bully.
> Neither is going to work on Voldemort.

Apparently, Snape's words had worked well enough with 
Voldemort to keep him alive, in Voldemort's service, for years 
now, even when Voldemort had every reason to distrust him/AK him on
sight (upon returning to DE service late). 

> He's a double agent, he should always be expecting the hammer
> to come down on him which means he should always have a way out.
> He is supposedly a great wizard. If so, can't he defend himself
> long enough to make it to the door?

I think you have made your point: If living had been Snape's goal, 
he had the talent, intelligence, and experience as a double-agent to
do so. But he doesn't do that, and he doesn't even attempt to do
so--which to me, says again, he chose to die as he did, a pawn
sacrificed in Dumbledore's chess game. 


Krista