Snape killing

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 163787

Ceridwen wrote in
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/163603>:
> 
> << No matter which Alphabet!Snape is imagined, killing is not
> something routine for him. Bellatrix said he got out of doing things
> with the Death Eaters, so it's possible that this was his first
> killing. >>
> 
Catlady responded:
> Considering that DD counted on Draco not being able to bring himself
quickly to kill a human because "Killing is not nearly as easy as the
innocent believe," I don't think he should make a plan that depends on
Snape quickly committing his first murder while getting the DEs out of
Hogwarts without giving them suspicions. That is, I think Snape must
have murdered before, and carries the guilt around with him.

Carol responds:
Snape isn't innocent. He joined the Death Eaters and he revealed the
Prophecy to Voldemort. He must have done something other than spying
as a Death Eater, for example, making potions that he knew would be
put to evil use. Nevertheless, we can't discount Bellatrix's remark
about Snape's "slithering out of action." And when JKR was asked
whether Snape could see a thestral, she responded: 

"He can see Thestrals, but in my imagination most of the older people
at Hogwarts would be able to see them because, obviously, as you go
through life you do lose people and understand what death is. But you
must not forget that Snape was a Death Eater. He will have seen things
that . . . ," at which point she breaks off. 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0804-ebf.htm

But she says "will have seen," not "will have killed." Snape kills
Dumbledore after a long hesitation (DD has to plead twice) because he
has to. We can't conclude that he has killed before even though he's
not innocent in the sense Dumbledore has in mind. Draco is not
"innocent" in the sense of being guiltless (he's tried twice to commit
murder and has brought the DEs into Hogwarts so that he can try again
to commit the same crime with backup) but in the sense of "not
knowing" what death is ("free from guilt or sin especially through
lack of knowledge of evil," Merriam-Webster). He can't see Thestrals,
so he's never seen anyone die. Snape, in contrast, knows what death is
and he knows what the consequences of his action will be, for
Dumbledore and for himself. His expression indicates that, far from
being easy, killing Dumbledore is difficult and hateful to him. His
anguish after Harry says "Kill me like you killed him" indicates the
same thing. He did what was right, not what was easy. I agree with
Ceridwen on this one.

Catlady: 
> If Snape's true goal had been to kill Dumbledore in some discreet
way like a poison that seemed as if he had died in his sleep, then it
would not be a blessing for him to kill Dumbledore in front of
witnesses, especially Harry, who will tell everyone, so that Snape is
now number 2 on the Wizarding Ten Most Wanted list (LV is number 1).
<snip>

Carol responds:
I agree that killing Dumbledore is a curse, not a blessing. It will
bring nothing but trouble, grief, and the agony of remorse to Snape
even though it was (IMO) the lesser of two evils. Not killing him
would have been far worse for everyone but the DEs and Voldemort. But
if his "true goal" had been to kill Dumbledore in any way, shape, or
form, he would certainly have done it discreetly, using some method
(undetectable poisons, one of his essay topics, come to mind) that
could not have been traced to him. He certainly would not have killed
 DD "in front of witnesses, especially Harry," who would report his
action and make him, as you say, the second most wanted wizard in the WW. 

If he really wanted DD dead, he had innumerable chances to kill him.
After all, DD trusted him completely, and his life was in Snape's
hands after the ring Horcrux destroyed his hand and nearly killed him.
All Snape needed to do was claim helplessness and run for help to
Madame Pomfrey, who would be equally (or genuinely) unable to help. He
could even have given him an undetectable poison disguised as a
sleeping potion. That he didn't do anything of the sort indicates that
he had no desire to kill Dumbledore and would never have done so if it
weren't for the UV, the DADA curse, and the unique circumstances on
the tower, which neither he nor DD could have anticipated.

Carol, on a snape binge again