Snape flying away

[allthecoolnamesgone]

No: HPFGUIDX 187285

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

> >
> Carol responds:
> 
> I'm pretty sure that Snape had his own wand. We never see him fail at casting a spell. 

Karen responds

Yes point taken, he was undoubtedly a very powerful wizard exceeding both Dumbledore and Voldemort in some areas of expertise.

> His Avada Kedavra is so strong that it sends Dumbledore over the battlements of the Astronomy Tower (I think he must have silently willed his wand to do that so that Fenrir Greyback and the DEs would have no reason to remain on the tower).

Karen responds

Aside from reasons why Severus would have wanted Dumbledore's body off the tower I think it served the authors purpose of creating some doubt over whether he was actually dead and what spell had actually been used. I don't think there's another example in the books of an Avada Kedavra causing the body to fly backwards, for example the Riddle family just died on the  spot still at the table. I seem to remember forum threads post HBP arguing that Dumbledore was not really dead at all and that it was all a set up between him and Snape. 
> 
> Carol, who thinks that Snape was PhD level in DADA as well as Potions, with the possible exception of Dark creatures
>

Karen responds

Yes he didn't have a lot of success with animals did he. JKR seems to have used that to intensify the readers distrust of him. She taps into the idea that animals sense character as most of the major good characters had their pet or familiar, but Snape doesn't and seems to dislike and be distrusted by all the creatures he comes into contact with. Perhaps they sense his potion-making skill and are just showing a healthy sense of self-preservation :)