[HPforGrownups] Re: Thoughts Regarding Snape

[NavarLane]

No: HPFGUIDX 171157

Kim:
<snip>
I do not think that Dumbledore expected Harry to witness his death at Snape's hands.  After drinking the poison, Dumbledore tells Harry repeatedly to take him to see Snape, even though Harry wants to take him to Madame Pomfrey. I think Dumbledore wanted to get Harry and Snape together, before he died from the poison, in order to work things out between the pair. I do not think there was enough time for even Snape to make an antidote for the poison, especially since there was no sample of it. So, this seems like the most logical thing to me. I don't think Dumbledore had a clue that Draco was going to let anyone into the castle that night. After all, the boy's other attempts were all failures. I think the invasion was a surprise to everyone and it forced Dumbledore and Snape to carry out a plan sooner than they expected or put one in action that they had hoped to avoid altogether.


Mark:

Kim,

I too have been a lurker for some time.  

I agree that no one was expecting the attack and it changed everything.  I think Dumbledore asked for Snape's help when he returned because he truly trusted Snape, although Harry and everyone else never have.  I don't think Dumbledore planned on having Harry see him AK'd, as I don't believe he thought that would ever happen.  I think his plea was for him to not do it as he saw at that moment what was about to happen.  I think Book 7 will show us that this was one of Dumbledore's huge mistakes in trust (that he himself describes as possible when he makes a mistake) that manifests when the DEs break in to Hogwarts and Snape returns to Voldemort's service when Draco is unable to AK him.  I think another key in this is when Dumbledore didn't know about the Unbreakable Vow when Draco informed him of this when discussing Snape's loyalties.  

I think Voldemort did order them to not kill Harry because I think he found out when he possessed Harry that he was a Horcrux and now does not want him dead.  There were no attacks on Harry in HBP or no plans to kill him as had always been the case before.  

Dumbledore always said when he made mistakes they were usually huger because he was (humbly) smarter than most others.  His greatest weakness (and strength) is love and trust and Snape has never shown one redeeming quality throughout the series and is accomplished at Occluemency.  I think Snape was upset he didn't get the recognition as a hero in the first war, didn't get recognized for capturing Sirius Black, and was second fiddle to Harry when he arrived on the scene and his personality is one that is spiteful and self-interest driven.  He saw Dumbledore as weak in the end and returned to where he thought the true power remained.

I think Dumbledore believed Snape would help Harry, but that was one of the huge mistake DD said he was capable of committing.  I think Snape will be a key player for Voldemort in Book 7 during his war.  

Sorry for the babbling, it is my first post and opportunity to share my belief.

Mark