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

[colebiancardi]

No: HPFGUIDX 166145

 
> Dana wrote:
<snipping>

> 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))
> 

colebiancardi here:

Yes, I do believe we did get another hint and it was brought up a few
years back:

From GoF, Am Ed hardback, p 603-604 "The Pensive"
Harry:  "Er", he said, "Mr Bagman..."
"...has never been accused of any Dark activity since," said
Dumbledore calmly.
"Right," said Harry hastily, staring at the contents of the Pensive
again, which were swirling more slowly now that Dumbledore had stopped
adding thoughts. "And...er..."
But the Pensive seemed to be asking the question for him.  Snape's
face was swimming on the surface again.  Dumbledore glanced down into
it, and then up at Harry.
"No more has Professor Snape," he said.
Harry looked into Dumbledore's light blue eyes, and the thing he
really wanted to know spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"What made you think he'd really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?"
Dumbledore held Harry's gaze for a few seconds, and then said, "That,
Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself."


Based on that quote, there is something more than just the Potter's
and Snape's life-debt to James that made Snape stop supporting
Voldemort.  Because Harry already knows about the life-debt that is
owed to his father.  If Snape's turning had anything to do with
Harry's parents, then it IS Harry's business.  But DD makes it quite
clear that it is not any of Harry's business the reason why Snape
turned against Voldemort.

colebiancardi
(who believes there is more to Snape's turning spy than just the
Potters - I believe it has to do with Regulus)