What would Snape have done if Lily had lived? (Was: Mothers)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 187538


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> Carol responds:

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„« Lily, I think, would have despaired at first, waking to find her son and husband dead, but would have been fired by revenge and fought valiantly in the Order. But unless LV or another DE killed her (with LV considering his promise to spare the Prophecy Boy's mother as no longer binding), I see no reason why Snape would not have remained a loyal DE. He'd have received his reward (or his request would have been honored). All he wanted at that point was for Lily to live.

Potioncat:
 Even if Lily had survived, she would have been "hurt" and that would be enough to turn Severus. Actually, I think the potential for her being hurt turned him in canon. It's the same dynamic as Regulus and his house elf. (drat, I know his name, but I can't spell it.) Besides, as you say, Snape provided service to DD before LV killed Lily.
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> Carol, who thinks that the Prophecy is "real" and that without Harry, all other efforts to defeat LV would have been futile


Potioncat:
Me too. That's the way a prophecy story works. That's why in a long-a-go thread, I said that Snape's not going to LV wouldn't have changed much. Once a prophecy is spoken and heard---it's in play.