The Baby @ Kings Cross Re: Of Sorting and Snape

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 175833

In Dante's Inferno, there is one place where Dante starts to feel sorry for the
souls in Hell.  His Guide, Virgil, tells him, "Here either pity or piety must
die."  Having taken her degree in Classical & Romance Languages, I am sure that
JKR knows her Dante quite well.

In Pilgrims Regress, CS Lewis has the pilgrim's Guide that the fixed pains of
Hell are God's "last severe mercy for those who will let Him do nothing further
for them."

DD's words are chosen precisely.  He doesn't say that we may, or should, or must
do nothing for the bit of Tom Riddle's soul, but that we cannot.  That is, that
it is impossible for us to do anything for it.

Bruce Alan Wilson

"The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.  Other forms of
transport grow daily more nightmarish.  Only the bicycle remains pure in
heart."--Iris Murdoch



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