Could Harry have saved Snape? (was Reacting to DH...)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 178082

> Alla:
> Eh, okay. In RL, sure. To me not in the book verse. Harry saw him 
> commit murder.

zgirnius:
As we and Harry now know, he saw no such thing. He thought he saw 
Snape murder Dumbledore; he actually only saw Snape kill Dumbledore. 
This is why we have trials instead of deciding people are murderers 
and acting accordingly, is I think Pippin's point. 

> Alla:
> I guess Voldemort is then technically an innocent man 
> too? I doubt JKR planned to put him in front of the jury, Voldemort 
> I mean.

zgirnius:
Actually, since Harry and we have been blessed (cursed is perhaps a 
better word) with direct perception of Voldemort's mind as he 
committed several murders, I would say perhaps not. However, Harry's 
actions towards him were consistent with such technical innocence. 
All Harry did was defend himself using a Disarming Charm when 
attacked by Voldemort. No one is suggesting he has an obligation to 
let Voldemort kill him. (A second time <g> ).

> Alla:
> To demand from Harry that he would save the murderer? I think Harry 
> had enough to take care of. I see no reason why Harry should have 
> thought of Snape at that time any difference than Voldemort, Bella, 
> or other DE? I see no difference if I were to look from Harry POV.

zgirnius:
I would expect the idea of providing medical attention to any and all 
of the individuals named to cross Harry's mind, were he to have come 
upon them bleeding severely and helpless, as he did in fact encounter 
Snape. He has done as much in the past - how is Peter Pettigrew, 
about to be murdered by his vengeful friends, any different?

Though as I reread the text, it is less clear to me that Harry never 
did think of it. As soon as Voldemort leaves, Harry enters the room.

> DH, "The Elder Wand":
> He did not know why he was doing it, why he was approaching the 
dying man: He did not know what he felt as he saw Snape's white face, 
and the fingers trying to staunch the bloody wound at his neck.

zgirnius:
It's a question of what we believe about the narration of the HP 
series, to drag another thread into this discussion. In whose opinion 
was Snape dying? If in Harry's, then the use of that word indicates 
he believed that Snape was about to die. In which case, his failure 
to consider medical intervention is natural because in his opinion, 
Snape was beyond help. Harry does all he can for the dying man - he 
goes to Snape, sees Snape is trying to speak and bends low to hear 
him, listens to his last words, takes the memories, and carries out 
Snape's dying request.