Spoilers
My (extensive) thoughts on the ending of HBP.
After reading the Half-Blood Prince, I have come to the conclusion that JK Rowling has left us with one of her biggest red herrings yet.
I have long been a fan of Severus Snape. Lured by his snarky attitude and mysterious background, I will openly admit that he is my favourite character of the series. Not only that, but he (along with Regulus Black) is the reason that I began writing fanfiction in the first place.
It’s obvious that many HP fans are horrified by what happened at the end of the HBP. Snape has gained quite a few enemies. I, however, am convinced that Snape, though nasty, cunning, and spiteful, was forced to “murder” Dumbledore as a response to the Headmaster’s orders.
As the Spinner’s End scene unfolded, and Snape discussed his loyalty to the Dark Lord at great length, I was impressed by his skill. Clearly he had taken time in crafting a tale that would relieve Bellatrix of her scepticism, or at least lessen it. Snape has walked the fine line between good and evil and he has mastered it. It’s little wonder Dumbledore holds him in such high esteem.
I was surprised when Snape made the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa, having suspected it involved Dumbledore somehow. Though he was vague on the information Voldemort had shared with him (if he had shared information at all), I realized that Snape must have had some idea of what was going on to make a vow like that. I’ve since mused upon the idea that he and Albus had discussed it at great length prior to Narcissa and Bella’s unexpected visit. The twitch of his hand as he makes the vow? Obviously a sign of nervous anticipation and regret for the task that lied ahead.
Something that interested me was the fact that Dumbledore mentioned the curse of the DADA professor to Harry. I thought it was odd that he didn’t mention harbouring concerns for Severus’s welfare, being as that he had just acquired the position. Perhaps he knew Severus would only be able to last the year? Not only that, I believe this could be one of the main reasons that he hadn’t given Snape the position in years prior. Snape was a great asset to the Order of the Phoenix, and Dumbledore relied on him greatly.
Hagrid mentioned overhearing an argument between Snape and Dumbledore in the forest. Perhaps Snape was unwilling to go through with Dumbledore’s wishes. Our pitiable Potions Master is filled with self-loathing, and having to murder the one man that trusts him would certainly make him want to back out of the deal. Snape has already dealt with guilt from causing the Potter’s deaths (which just screams Snape/Lily, by the way), and to have something like that come up again would be horrific.
Dumbledore, I believe, knew that his time was running out. Having sustained a serious injury from a horcrux, he was anticipating his death. Dumbledore has always stressed that “to the well organised mind, death is but the next great adventure” and that there are “fates worse than death.” How can a man who says such things plead for his life to be spared in the end? It just doesn’t make any sense.
Once Dumbledore had ingested the poison and returned to Hogwarts, the first person he asks for is Severus. I think he realized that his time was short, and that Severus needed to fulfil his end of the bargain. By having Snape do this, Dumbledore has also saved Draco and his parents from death. He immobilizes Harry so that he can’t interfere (as he surely would in true Gryffindor style) and faces his captors as a “defeated” man.
I think it is important to mention that Dumbledore pleads with Snape before he even lifts his wand toward him:
…the door to the ramparts burst open once more and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.
“We’ve got a problem, Snape,” said the lumpy Amycus, whose eyes and wand were fixed alike upon Dumbledore, “the boy doesn’t seem able-“
But somebody else had spoken Snape’s name, quite softly.
“Severus…”
The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.
Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
“Severus…please…”
Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by JK Rowling, Scholastic Press, pg. 595-596
So here we have the scene. Dumbledore is pleading with Snape. I believe he was pleading with Snape to go on and kill him (though it also puts on a nice show for the Death Eaters). The revulsion and hatred in Snape’s face would easily be caused by having to murder his mentor. Goodness knows that Dumbledore was the only one who ever stood behind Snape one hundred percent.
I do believe that Dumbledore is dead. I don’t think Fawkes would have been crying if Dumbledore were alive, and I doubt that his painting would have been hung up, either.
I don’t believe Snape is a murderer, though. He is a hero. I think, though Harry is set against him, and now many of the others are, that he has had the most difficult life, and that he is one of the strongest characters in the series.
Think about it. No one else would have been able to carry on with a task like that. No one else would have been able to go through with it; it would have compromised their own family/careers/lives. Severus is logical. He is smart, he is strong, and he will obey, especially when it seems that there is no other choice. He is a good man. A nasty man, but a good man.
And even if I am wrong, and JK makes him evil (and I might possibly keel over if she does) I will fangirl him forever.
After reading the Half-Blood Prince, I have come to the conclusion that JK Rowling has left us with one of her biggest red herrings yet.
I have long been a fan of Severus Snape. Lured by his snarky attitude and mysterious background, I will openly admit that he is my favourite character of the series. Not only that, but he (along with Regulus Black) is the reason that I began writing fanfiction in the first place.
It’s obvious that many HP fans are horrified by what happened at the end of the HBP. Snape has gained quite a few enemies. I, however, am convinced that Snape, though nasty, cunning, and spiteful, was forced to “murder” Dumbledore as a response to the Headmaster’s orders.
As the Spinner’s End scene unfolded, and Snape discussed his loyalty to the Dark Lord at great length, I was impressed by his skill. Clearly he had taken time in crafting a tale that would relieve Bellatrix of her scepticism, or at least lessen it. Snape has walked the fine line between good and evil and he has mastered it. It’s little wonder Dumbledore holds him in such high esteem.
I was surprised when Snape made the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa, having suspected it involved Dumbledore somehow. Though he was vague on the information Voldemort had shared with him (if he had shared information at all), I realized that Snape must have had some idea of what was going on to make a vow like that. I’ve since mused upon the idea that he and Albus had discussed it at great length prior to Narcissa and Bella’s unexpected visit. The twitch of his hand as he makes the vow? Obviously a sign of nervous anticipation and regret for the task that lied ahead.
Something that interested me was the fact that Dumbledore mentioned the curse of the DADA professor to Harry. I thought it was odd that he didn’t mention harbouring concerns for Severus’s welfare, being as that he had just acquired the position. Perhaps he knew Severus would only be able to last the year? Not only that, I believe this could be one of the main reasons that he hadn’t given Snape the position in years prior. Snape was a great asset to the Order of the Phoenix, and Dumbledore relied on him greatly.
Hagrid mentioned overhearing an argument between Snape and Dumbledore in the forest. Perhaps Snape was unwilling to go through with Dumbledore’s wishes. Our pitiable Potions Master is filled with self-loathing, and having to murder the one man that trusts him would certainly make him want to back out of the deal. Snape has already dealt with guilt from causing the Potter’s deaths (which just screams Snape/Lily, by the way), and to have something like that come up again would be horrific.
Dumbledore, I believe, knew that his time was running out. Having sustained a serious injury from a horcrux, he was anticipating his death. Dumbledore has always stressed that “to the well organised mind, death is but the next great adventure” and that there are “fates worse than death.” How can a man who says such things plead for his life to be spared in the end? It just doesn’t make any sense.
Once Dumbledore had ingested the poison and returned to Hogwarts, the first person he asks for is Severus. I think he realized that his time was short, and that Severus needed to fulfil his end of the bargain. By having Snape do this, Dumbledore has also saved Draco and his parents from death. He immobilizes Harry so that he can’t interfere (as he surely would in true Gryffindor style) and faces his captors as a “defeated” man.
I think it is important to mention that Dumbledore pleads with Snape before he even lifts his wand toward him:
…the door to the ramparts burst open once more and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.
“We’ve got a problem, Snape,” said the lumpy Amycus, whose eyes and wand were fixed alike upon Dumbledore, “the boy doesn’t seem able-“
But somebody else had spoken Snape’s name, quite softly.
“Severus…”
The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.
Snape said nothing, but walked forward and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
“Severus…please…”
Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by JK Rowling, Scholastic Press, pg. 595-596
So here we have the scene. Dumbledore is pleading with Snape. I believe he was pleading with Snape to go on and kill him (though it also puts on a nice show for the Death Eaters). The revulsion and hatred in Snape’s face would easily be caused by having to murder his mentor. Goodness knows that Dumbledore was the only one who ever stood behind Snape one hundred percent.
I do believe that Dumbledore is dead. I don’t think Fawkes would have been crying if Dumbledore were alive, and I doubt that his painting would have been hung up, either.
I don’t believe Snape is a murderer, though. He is a hero. I think, though Harry is set against him, and now many of the others are, that he has had the most difficult life, and that he is one of the strongest characters in the series.
Think about it. No one else would have been able to carry on with a task like that. No one else would have been able to go through with it; it would have compromised their own family/careers/lives. Severus is logical. He is smart, he is strong, and he will obey, especially when it seems that there is no other choice. He is a good man. A nasty man, but a good man.
And even if I am wrong, and JK makes him evil (and I might possibly keel over if she does) I will fangirl him forever.