It seems that many of Rowling's plot devices rely on some of her more talented and intelligent characters not using their noggin' or heeding obviously valuable advice. And I feel incredibly stupid for not even suspecting the book belonged to Snape. I allowed myself to be completely fooled by the different name. But the incredibly small scrawl that takes up any empty space on the page? A brilliant potions maker. The fact that Snape knew immediately the curse Harry had used against Malfoy? It all seems so obvious in hindsight.
And, of course, rereading certain passages and Hagrid overhearing the argument between Snape and Dumbledore? Well, it was a pretty big hint that Snape is probably an unredeemable bad guy. It sounded like a threat; that he was sick of cowing to Dumbledore's wishes. Oh....oh, le sigh. FIE!
I think what frustrates me is that I wanted Harry to be wrong about Snape every bit as much as I wanted Snape to realize he was wrong about Harry. It's a storytelling I respond to, but I suppose I'll just have to get over it.
Anyway, I was a bit frustrated that Harry would give up Ginny but still be okay with Ron and Hermione. I realize he's falling in love with Ginny but the danger is there for all of them. And it's a watery argument just like the one used by Peter Parker in Spiderman. I suppose she'd be more at risk if she were known to be Harry's girlfriend, except that's just it - Snape already knows about Ginny, I'm sure. So if she's a weakness of Harry's, and Snape really is just evil, evil, evil, Ginny's already in danger. So they might as well keep snogging, dammit.
I am in denial, I think. I start to get really depressed because I'm so attached to these characters (and, sadly, attached to certain ideas I had about one character in particular) that as soon as I allow myself to feel really upset, I change the subject in my head. And now, because I gulped this book down, I'm already antsy for the next one. And, at the same time, not looking forward to it because I cannot imagine a book without Dumbledore in it.
There was a lot more levity in this book, which was pleasing. And Harry's attitude towards the end, his not falling apart, was really well done. But, many, what a tragic loss. It's strange, though. We knew these deaths were coming, and I knew Dumbledore would die; I just figured it would happen in the next book. Heidi totally called it for this one. I think I even expected more core characters die, but I suppose having Snape kill Dumbledore is friggin' tragic enough! But nothing has quite shocked or unnerved me as much as "Kill the spare". That's where it all really began, and it just cannot be topped.
I also loved Voldemort's physical absence in this book. Constantly discussed, his past investigated via pensieve, he was stiill somehow on every page as a malignant presence. It was effectively disturbing. And dividing his soul into 7 parts? Rowling is brilliant!
Ok, I was thinking about this last night. Dumbledore said earlier that he was not afraid of death, right? It was either in the 4th or 5th book, I don't quite remember. Well, if he's not afraid of death, why would he be pleading for his life? He was prepared to die, we already knew that, since he was a member of the Order. He probably, even after the potion, still had enough power left to pull one of his tricks like he did in his office before the Auror's in book 5. So WHY would he plead? To Snape, of all people?
Maybe his death was planned.
Perhaps he realized that the only way to find the locations of all the Horuxes was to have Voldemort tell him directly. And who better to tell than Snape, who is already in his inner circle. Of course, Voldemort would only tell Snape if he trusted Snape 120%. How to do this? Well, Snape would have to preform a huge duty. Either kill Dumbledore, or kill Harry.
So, I believe, Dumbledore intentionally asked Snape to kill him. He knew he was going to die, thats why he gave Harry the order to leave him behind to save himself if he had to. Dumbledore wasn't pleading for his life, he was pleading to Snape to kill him. Thats why Snape didn't just kill Harry on the lawn. Thats why Snape didn't take out Hermione and Ginny and Flitwick when he had the chance.
In addition, I believe that Snape ensured Harry's position as an Auror. By making sure Harry had his copy of the potions textbook, and by leaving the post of Potions, he made sure Harry would pass his N.E.W.T.S, allowing him to become an Auror.
So, I believe, Dumbledore intentionally asked Snape to kill him. He knew he was going to die, thats why he gave Harry the order to leave him behind to save himself if he had to. Dumbledore wasn't pleading for his life, he was pleading to Snape to kill him. Thats why Snape didn't just kill Harry on the lawn. Thats why Snape didn't take out Hermione and Ginny and Flitwick when he had the chance.
In addition, I believe that Snape ensured Harry's position as an Auror. By making sure Harry had his copy of the potions textbook, and by leaving the post of Potions, he made sure Harry would pass his N.E.W.T.S, allowing him to become an Auror.
It's all staged, IMHO.
Spoiler:
This is, as I've stated, my hope. And you rationalize it very, very well! So you're keeping my hope alive! heh. When Harry noted the fear and concern in his plea, alarm bells rang off. When Dumbledore drank the potion in the Cave it seemed as though he drank his biggest fears, which - from the peppered dialogue - sounded like students being killed. And he was begging the murderer to take his (Dumbledore's) life and not theirs. Which made me think he was begging Snape to ensure Draco's (and the students') safety, and not his own. So in the Cave he cried out "KILL ME", and I suspect he said much the same to Snape using Legill...oh, that counterpart to Occlumency...)
I was also interested in how Snape did not attack Harry. They were alone and only within earshot of Death Eaters, and Snape essentially slapped Harry across the face when Harry called Snape a coward, but that was it. (And if Snape is good, despite all the bad he's done in his past, being called a "coward" probably would muster an angry response out of him. Most likely he knew what a coward he was to join Voldemort in the first place. If he's also, like Harry, still Dumbledore's man, that insult would burn. And enrage.)
But, going back to their fight, he simply flicks away Harry's curses with a deft move of his wrist. He does not, however, countercurse Harry. Sure, the Dark Lord wants Harry for himself, but the Dark Lord fears Death above all things, so surely he wouldn't mind if Severus left him paralyzed or essentially incapable of fighting back when Voldemort attacks. It seemed that Snape was stil protecting Harry. And even instructing him when he once again reminded Potter that he'd be incacapable of launching a real attack if he's still speaking the curses allowed. If Snape can defend himself against Harry Potter, just think what Voldemort could do. And Snape usually seems right in his assertions that Harry is not an exceptional wizard or student; he's mostly powerful because of what the Dark Lord did (and lost) when he attacked Harry as a baby. That's part of why Snape is resentful and petty. He always sought to be powerful, but was mostly just hugely intelligent and clever. Then there's Harry who is kind of an average to exceptional student, but extremely powerful. It's kinda like Mozart and Mozart's rival (who's name begins with an S, but I'm forgetting the spelling).
Snape will always hate Harry, but I suspect he's working to help him all the same. Suspect. Hope. Again. Or Snape's just EVIL! Heh.
Anyway, yeah, I think Snape could have done a lot more damage to Harry, Flitwick, Hermione, etc. I think you're totally right. There is a good chance that his killing curse was simply following Albus' instructions, and if that's the case, I cannot imagine how difficult a thing that would have been for Snape. I mean, to kill the one person in the entire world who trusts and cares about you?
And, if it was Snape's desire all along? Man, to kill the one person in the entire world who trusts and cares about you? Holy crap, dude.
07-17-2005, 03:15 AM
Hybrid Mode
