Moody's death (was: Dumbledore's authority WAS: Re: Fees for Harry)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 179459

> Renee:
> If I'm not mistaken, Snape doesn't actually save Lupin, as he misses
> the Death Eater's wand hand and cuts off George's ear instead. Lupin
> survives because the Death Eater apparently misses as well. I agree
> it's the intention that counts, though.

Zara:
While I agree that it is the intention that counts - I do think that 
the sound of Snape shouting the incantation for his "signature spell" 
from behind may have inspired the Death Eater to move out of the 
crossfire rather than complete whatever spell he was contemplating.

Not in response to your post in particular, Renee, but I have been 
thinking, as a result of this thread, about why Dumbledore felt it 
was necessary for Snape to reveal the date of Harry's transfer. As 
has been pointed out before, Voldemort could obviously not expect 
that Snape would have been entrusted with that information by the 
Order. (Or, if Snape had been prior to the end of HBP, Voldemort 
would expect the Order to change its plans on the heels of Snape's 
apparent murder of Dumbledore).

And indeed, this is not how Snape obtains the information. He 
approaches Dung, casts a spell on him, and both gets the date, and 
plants the plan which should give Harry the best chance of survival 
(under the circumstances of the date being known). I think this is 
the point - in GoF, OotP, or HBP, Snape must have passed information 
suggesting he knows some of the Order members. He and Dumbledore 
could hardly do otherwise - what kind of spy would Snape seem if 
Dumbledore did not even trust him with this?

If Snape claimed an inability to come up with the date, Voldemort 
would delegate the task to another, who would then go after the known 
Order members for the desired information. Since Snape claimed the 
task, no such order needed to be given.

Snape did not resort to violence, which someone like Bella surely 
would have. And Snape planted the Seven Potters idea, which, again, 
Bella would not have. With Bella (or Yaxley, or whoever) in charge, 
an Order member or members might have been offered the opportunity to 
die rather than betray their friends. Dumbledore's way, those 
hypothetical people are still alive, and while the secret is known, a 
precaution is put in place that ends up making the plan a success. 
(Harry escaped).

The other way, people might have died as well, and the secret might 
still be known. Without the 7 Potters plan to improve the odds.