Snape and Marauders WAS :Draco and Intent

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186916

Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
But he doesn't bother to check what Snape had overheard--
doesn't bother to obliviate that information from a likely
Death Eater or Death Eater associate? He just lets the
fellow toddle off to tattle to Voldemort?

That seems to me as irresponsible as Sirius pushing
Peter as a Secret Keeper. <SNIP>

Alla:

Absolutely! If he **does not bother** to check what Snape overheard, he is bearing part of the blame for Potters deaths, I totally agree.

The thing is, I really do not think canon tells us with certainty that he **does not bother** to check.

While I will be the first one to say that JKR's assessment of Dumbledore's mistakes is not as big as mine, I think it is still established in canon that he does make a lot of mistakes.

Are you sure that this could not have happened at all? Dumbledore who thinks that Divination is extremely unreliable discipline goes to interview Sybill and shocked to hear a true prophecy, and by shock I mean that he just does not react as fast as he would have reacted ordinarily?

Maybe he just did not know what he wanted to do and Snape already dissapparated. Maybe since Ariana's death, he is really not as trigger happy in the places where there are a lot of civilians and he was afraid to accidentally hit somebody with the curse.

I never bought the theory of Dumbledore deliberately letting Snape to get away and let Snape talk to Voldemort, probably because despite all his faults I did not see Dumbledore as a monster.

However, if he DID do that and I certainly cannot disprove it, you get no arguments from me, Dumbledore IS responsible for Potters deaths.


Montavilla47:
See, I realize that we are discussing opinions and neither of us
is "right" about this, but I can't help seeing Peter as *more*
responsible. Snape knew that he was delivering important
information to Voldemort, but he really didn't know what
Voldemort was going to do with that information. I don't think
he cared what Voldemort did with it.

But Peter definitely knew that breaking the secret keeper charm
would result in the deaths of James, Lily, and Harry.

Alla:

I just cannot buy that Snape did not know what Voldemort will do with it, I know I said it before, but what exactly Snape would think happen – Voldemort will invite the prophecy couple for tea and make best buds with them? Sarcasm is directed at Snape here, not at you!

But of course Peter is responsible in a major way for their deaths, I am NOT taking off his responsibility from him, I am just holding him responsible for his own choices, as you said he had to know what will happen if he betrays – death, etc, to follow.

Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
Obviously, Snape is more to blame than anyone else
(except, I think, Merope), because he did a deliberate
act of ill will, I think it's a bit much to give him primary
blame for the deaths of Lily and James, because the
primary cause was Voldemort. <SNIP>


Alla:

I just want to be sure, because I cannot exclude the possibility that you are joking before I am sure. You are seriously saying that Dumbledore choosing to interview Trelawney not in the castle can be considered first act in the chain?

If this is a serious argument, then I just disagree. I consider the first act to be the act of what you called the act of ill will and that was Snape's in my opinion.

HOWEVER, again, to be clear I do NOT give Snape's primary responsibility for James and Lily's deaths. Of course it lies with Voldemort. I hold Snape responsible for starting the chain of events that lead to their deaths, starting it with the act of ill will. So, sure, if we were to put a list of who is primary responsible for Potters' **deaths**, I would put Snape as number three, after Voldemort and Peter. But if we were to put a list of people who made Potters' deaths **possible**, on that list for me Snape is number one, or at the very least he shares this place with Voldemort and nobody else comes even close. IMO of course.

Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
Nor was it the first action in the chain.  There were plenty
> of choices that took place before Snape heard the prophecy
> that might have prevented his choice.

Alla:

I just disagree, to me Snape's choice was the first one that truly mattered.

JMO,

Alla