Why DD did not ask Snape to kill him. (extremely long)

[Dana]

No: HPFGUIDX 166140

> Carol earlier:
> > > I don't see your logic here. Snape was spying "at great personal
> risk" before Godric's Hollow, as Dana admits ("Snape turned before
> GH"). How, then, can Harry's story that Snape's remorse occurred
> *after* the Potters' deaths not be inconsistent with the facts
already
> presented in canon?
> > <snip>
> >
> >
> Carol again:
> Nor do I. I was disagreeing with Alla's interpretation of your post,
> not with your points, which I stated that I essentially agree with.
(I
> do think that the life debt was Snape's *primary* motive for wanting
> to save the Potters, and I agree with you that he resented James
> Potter's "arrogance" in trusting Sirius Black over Dumbledore.

Dana now:
Well but I was the one that made the assessment that Snape would not
have cared if LV have gotten to Harry *after* he had settled his debt
with James. Because *if* it is the life-debt that made him turn then
one could also conclude without it he would never have. That doesn't
make it clear cut and the only true possibility but it very well
could be.

Even if Harry understood that Snape was passing information on LV
about the Potters then he would still not ever see this other than
Snape saving his own skin and not because he truly cared about James
and Lily.

There is no inconsistencies between what Harry said on the hospital
wing and what DD told him and therefore there is no need for Hermione
to notice this inconsistency to make Harry see he is wrong about
Snape. Harry oversimplified but it is not Harry's explanation that is
important but what DD said to Harry. So Harry does not need anyone
explaining it to him because he already knows what DD said and his
conclusion that DD's reason for trusting Snape therefore might be
invalid might very well be correct, except on one account. That Snape
would indeed not harm Harry himself or be able to actively
participate in something that could cause Harry's death but Snape
could still be a very real threat to other Order members.

I am not saying that he was but it is not by definition that Harry
will be proven wrong if he understands that Snape turned before GH.
It is still possible that his spying at great personal risk did not go further then trying to keep the Potters safe.

But again this does not have to be the only reason DD trusted Snape
but the only reason he gave Harry without lying. The only problem is we never get another hint it is anything more and although JKR could have considered this too revealing you would think she would put it in there somewhere (and maybe she did but I am not clever enough to find it ;o))

> Carol:
> <snip>
> He couldn't have spied *on Dumbledore* (as he's ostensibly doing for
> Voldemort) without the job, true. But I'm talking about spying *on
> Voldemort* "at great personal risk," which he can hardly do while
he's
> at Hogwarts. The spying has to precede the teaching.
> <big snip plausible scenario and canon I already thought you were
referring to>

Dana now:
And what has he been doing the last two years?

Yes, he rejoined before LV's down fall but no where in canon is it
proven that he did so for long periods of time. He could have indeed
be spying during the Summer before starting his job at Hogwarts and
that could mean he only worked as a spy for about 4 months. It is
still before LV's down fall and it is still at great personal risk.

I am not saying you can't be right but it is not canon that he worked
as a spy longer than being a teacher. It is also not canon that LV
made up his mind long before he got a chance to strike. JKR suggests
Harry's christening was hurried because they were ready to go into
hiding but this does not have to be because LV made a choice but as a
result of DD suggesting this because he knew LV got a part of the
prophecy and Harry (and Neville) meeting the criteria.

I am not arguing you on this (absolutely not) because for me it is very plausible that Snape indeed turned for other reasons too but it
remains speculation and it is not canon that Snape actually worked as
a spy longer then he was a teacher.

Dana