Dumbledore and Snape that night WAS: Re: GoF CH 27-29 Post DH look

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 182303

Potioncat:
I'm responding to the thread in general, not just Pippin's post. But 
she always write such good ones, so it's nice to sort of tag along.
 
> Pippin:
snip
> 
> Dumbledore doesn't say he's going to let Lily be killed unless 
Snape will help him. If Snape 
> even thought that, IMO, it's because he was still a DE at heart.  
But I think it would be very 
> in character for Dumbledore to weigh how many lives might  be lost 
while Lily  was out of 
> action.  

Potioncat:
 Let's take a step back to the beginning of this memory. We have the 
conversation between DD and Snape about Lily, but let's look at the 
start of the meeting. I'd like to know what others think of this part 
of the exchange.


*******************
Chapter 33 p 676 Scholastic ed.

The adult Snape was panting, turning on the spot, his wand gripped 
tightly in his hand, waiting for something or for someone
His fear 
infected Harry too, even though he knew that he could not be harmed, 
and he looked over his shoulder, wondering what it was that Snape was 
waiting for--

Then a blinding, jagged jet of white light flew through the air; 
Harry thought of lightning, but Snape had dropped to his knees and 
his wand had flown out of his hand.

"Don't kill me!"

"That was not my intention."

<skip description>

"Well, Severus? What message does LV have for me?"

"No---no message---I'm here on my own account!"

Snape was wringing his hands; He looked a little mad, with his 
straggling black hair flying around him.

"I--I come with a warning---no, a request---please--"

DD flicked his wand,  <snip> "What request could a Death Eater make 
of me?"
****************


Snape is waiting, afraid. DD arrives either in a temper or on the 
offensive. I have the feeling that DE!Snape and DD have met before. 
DD seems to think there is a message from LV, Snape seems to think DD 
might kill him. Obviously, there is some post-Hogwarts history 
between them. "I'm here on my own account" makes it sounds as if 
Snape has been a messenger boy before; and the last time must not 
have gone well.

Severus had to screw up some courage to even come to DD. It's not 
like he thought to himself that he'd drop in at Hogwarts and network. 
Even knowing that he's bringing important information to DD, he's 
afraid. And he isn't asking anything for himself. It's not "save Lily 
and protect me." So, not only is he not asking for himself, but he 
agrees to pay for the service that he's asking of DD. 

Pippin has pointed out that DD isn't in the business of protecting 
Order members. At the same time, a general would want to minimize the 
danger to his troops. Sending them into harm's way needs to be done 
with the best cover possible. (I'm out of my element in war strategy 
here.)  So I can see how DD's question could be from that point of 
view. At any rate, DD's purpose in protecting the Potters is to 
protect the Chosen One a while longer. I don't think DD expects a 
baby to defeat LV.  So now I'm not sure if we have Order Leader DD 
asking for something or if we have DD testing Severus. Or a little of 
both.


"And what will you give me in return, Severus?"
Snape gaped at DD. <snip> after a long moment he said, "Anything."

Boy, I'd sure like to hear the rest of that conversation!