What would convince Harry/canned memories

[Jen Reese]

Amandageist:
> So what does this mean? Two things.
> 
> ONE--I think the reason Dumbledore never told Harry why he trusts
> Snape is that he *can't,* meaning he honestly is not able to. I
> believe he *doesn't know,* because he has taken that memory out of
> his head, as insurance, because he knew it was quite likely he'd
> be facing Voldemort. I think, to be safe, Dumbledore would allow
> himself to remember that he trusts Snape, and that he has a good 
> reason--but not the reason itself.  Because if Voldemort managed
> to "see" the first two things, he would think only that Snape was
>damn good at fooling Dumbledore, which would *strengthen* Snape's
> position with Voldemort. But if Voldemort ever managed to see 
> the "ironclad" reason *why* Dumbledore trusted Snape? That would
> doom Snape.

Jen: I love this theory, first off. It would explain so much. Like 
why DD told no one the full reason he trusted Snape, including other 
Order members. At the end of HBP we find out even Mcgonagall took 
trusting Severus on faith: "He always hinted he had an irconclad 
reason for trusting Snape...wouldn't hear a word against it." (US, 
chap. 29, p. 616).

It might also explain Dumbledore's pause when Harry confronts him 
very directly before they go to the cave: "Dumbledore did not speak 
for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind 
about something." (chap. 25, p. 549). Oh, if only he had decided to 
whip out that memory and dump it into the Pensieve before they left 
for the cave! Amanda, you mentioned later that Dumbledore didn't 
tell Harry because he didn't have the memory, but he must remember 
enough about Snape's story to know he has it stored somewhere. 
Otherwise it would be lost forever.

Did he think they would have time later on? Because it certainly 
seemed like the time had arrived for DD to give Harry more 
information about Snape. He couldn't believe there was *any* hope 
the two could work together after Harry just found out Snape was the 
eavesdropper. But Dumbledore hesitated, and obviously decided 
against taking the time to address it at that moment. An old man's 
mistake. ;-)


Jen