ChapDisc: DH 18, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 182752

Carol responds:
<SNIP>
I think the fact that LV doesn't have this information shows that
there *are* limits, either to Dumbledore's orders or to what Snape is
wiling to do or both.

Their goal is to protect Harry until he can face Voldemort. (Snape, of
course, doesn't know that Harry can survive this confrontation.)
Naturally, they're not going to give LV information that he doesn't
need just to sustain or increase Snape's credibility. But giving LV
information about a specific plan that LV knows must exist (the blood
protection is about to expire, and Harry has to leave some time before
his seventeenth birthday) is essential if Snape is to become
headmaster and carry out the rest of the plan.

Giving him specific information about the safe houses is not. Notice
how vague Snape is when LV asks where the Order is going to hide Harry
next. He says "At the home of one of the Order. the place, according
to the source, has been given every protection that the Order and
Ministry together could provide" (5).
<SNIP>
At any rate, there are clearly limits on the amount and types of
information that Snape gives LV--only as much as necessary to maintain
the illusion that he is telling LV everything he knows about the
matter at hand.

As for Ginny Weasley, there's no reason whatever to bring her up and
every reason not to do so, for both her sake and Harry's. <SNIP>


Alla:

Yes, I know that Voldemort does not have that particular information, 
but it is not quite my point. My point is that IF the underlying 
reason for giving ANY information to Voldemort will be to improve 
Snape's standing in Voldemort's eyes, then where do we draw the line 
without becoming evil?

For example, you argued that giving the information about the plan is 
essential to Snape becoming the Headmaster, while giving information 
about safe houses is not. How so?

The purpose in both instances is essentially the same, no? The 
purpose, I mean which Voldemort thinks is the purpose. For him – the 
purpose is to catch Harry Potter, so he will allegedly trust Snape 
more if he knows how Potter will be transported AND he will allegedly 
trust Snape more if he knows WHERE Potter will be transported, no? He 
can attack in any place he chooses, be it moment of transportation or 
when Harry and his guard arrive at safe house.

What I am trying to say is that I see no difference between giving 
one type of info to Voldemort and NOT giving another.

What I am also saying that personally I do not see any correlation 
between Snape's standing being improved and giving that information. 
For all I know Snape's standing is already as good as it can get. For 
all I know Voldemort trusts ANY of his fellow DE only as much as he 
so desires, no matter what they do and Snape is way ahead already by 
killing Dumbledore.

What I am saying is that for me to swallow the idea that Dumbledore 
is betraying the Order to make sure that Snape is fine and dandy with 
Voldemort, there better be some ironclad reason that he is, well not 
OR there better be some other reason for Dumbledore doing what he did.

You also argued that Ginny Weasley is not needed to be bring into the 
mix, well sure I agree. But I seem to remember strong agreement on 
the list that Snape at least told Voldemort that Sirius is back in 
England (or some other PART of his story, not sure) and again where 
exactly do we draw the line?

Sirius was a person whom Harry loved dearly; Ginny is the person whom 
Harry loves dearly. Who is to say that Dumbledore would not decide 
one day that to improve Snape' standing he needs to tell Voldemort 
that there is a potential captive in the school who can be kidnapped 
and Harry is sure as heck to come to rescue her and could be attacked?

Where exactly we drew the line to decide which innocent lives could 
be sacrificed to improve Snape's standing (which I do not see NEEDS 
improvement) and which are not?

JMO,

Alla