Plan to move Harry WAS: Re: Caring about people

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 184563

Carol earlier:
> <SNIP>
> You don't see how the Seven Potters diversion is better than a
single Harry? *That's* what makes the different. <HUGE SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> Well, no. I do not see how **telling DE** about seven Potters plan
was better than not telling them about it. What I am saying if 
Dumbledore would have come up with Seven Potters only, would be fine
by me. It is giving it to Voldemort what makes me scratch my head.
> 
> Again, we are going to have to agree to disagree on whether
increasing Snape's standing in Voldemort's eyes is a good reason for
doing so. I made up my mind that it is not, BUT if somebody could and
 wishes to show me that telling DE about this plan was going to help
**protect Harry**, I would love to hear it.

Carol responds:

But Snape *did* tell LV about the Seven Potters plan. That was his ace
in the hole, the key point that he kept secret. All he told him was
the time and date, which LV would have found out, any way. And I gave
the examples of the DEs instantly showing up when Harry said
"Voldemort" to show that they can indeed appear instantly when
summoned. And if the DEs can, so can LV.

Again, it's the Seven Potters plan that protects Harry, as the Order's
original plan would, IMO, have failed to do.

As for the revelation increasing (or at least maintaining) Snape's
standing with LV, we see that he retains his status as (literally)
LV's right-hand man. We see that at least two DEs, Bellatrix and
Yaxley, are jealous of him and jockeyeing for LV's favor. (Lucius
probably is, too, but he's in no position to say so.) We see how
respectfully (if that's the word) LV treats him in comparison to the
other DEs. If he had *not* come through with information that trumped
Yaxley's and convinced LV that his information was correct (as,
indeed, it was, except for that all-important lie by omission), not to
mention passing that terrible Legilimency test with flying colors (we
see later how LV invades Gregorovitch's mind, and he's surely invading
Snape's here), Snape would *not* have retained that position. As it
is, next time we hear from him (not counting the incident with
George's ear), he has the position that DD wants him to have and has
been counting on him to obtain, the headmastership of Hogwarts.

So it's not that revealing the time and date to LV protects Harry.
Obviously, it doesn't. But, thanks to the Seven Potters plan, Harry is
in less danger than if DD and Snape had not interfered. And keeping
Snape's credibility is essential to DD, more so than it is to Snape,as
Portrait!DD's words to snape reveal: 

"You will have to give Voldemort the correct date of Harry's departure
from his aunt and uncle's. *Not to do so will raise suspicion, when
Voldemort believes you so well informed.* However, you must plant *the
idea of decoys*; that, I think *ought to ensure Harry's safety*. Try
Confunding Mundungus Fletcher. And Severus, if you are forced to take
part in the chase, *be sure to act your part convincingly. I am
counting upon you to remain in Lord Voldemorts good books as long as
possible, or Hogwarts will be left to the mercy of the Carrows*" (DH
Am. ed. 688).

Of course, you can disagree with DD, but at least his intentions are
clear. Snape's concern for the plan (and, by implication, Harry's
safety) is evident in his words to Mundungus, which are more detailed
than DD's instructions to him and by his caution, "It is the only
thing that *might* work." (IOW, the original plan *won't* work,
whether or not he reveals the time and date to LV, but this one
*might* overcome any slight advantage in timing gained through his
revelation by creating a diversion, confusing and dividing the DEs.

That Snape is, ironically, more concerned than DD with the lives of
the Order members (as opposed to Harry, about whose safety DD, Snape,
and the Order are equally concerned) is evident when he risks his
cover to save Lupin. (I think, though, that if he'd "accidentally" hit
the DE with Sectumsempra, he would have flown down with him to
apologize and apply the countercurse, temporarily taking both of them
out of the battle. He would have maintained his credibility by saving
the DE's hand and perhaps his life, and, of course, he would have
gotten back into the chase, just in time to be thwarted like everyone
else by the protective barriers. He knows how important it is that he
maintain Voldemort's trust and be appointed headmaster, but he also
believes in saiving lives that can be saved.)

Carol, who wants to know how Snape and Portrait!DD learned that the
fake Harry who lost his ear was George Weasley