Stoppered Death Theory.
So once again I am trudging through hp_essays and another thought struck me by reading a comment to the 'Dumbledore's Mercy: Why Draco Couldn't Pull the Trigger' essay.
Now, I know I've only read HBP once... it is for a good reason that I have done this, mainly because I want to hang on to any shard of sanity I have left by being absolutely devastated by it the first time around. Therefore, my feelings and theories on certain matters will be somewhat lacking in references - but I have a damn good memory, and regardless of that, if it concerns Snape - I'll know about it.
Again, it's something I've known for quite some time, so don't say 'I knew that AAAAAGES ago' - good for you. Really. *rolls eyes*
We all know Dumbledore was dying throughout the canon Sixth Year, right? It's painfully obvious why Dumbledore kept asking for Snape...
"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death" (PS 102)
I am certain he was. Throughout the year, Snape was "stoppering" (that word looks really weird.. anyway...) DD's death until the time came that he was no longer required to have his life extended. The line: "He cannot kill you if you are already dead" (HBP somepageIdon'tknow) particularly stood out. What if Snape, at the last moment, somehow 'unstoppered' DD's death from taking its toll and therefore Dumbledore was, in fact, already dead by the time the AK curse hit him?
He referred somewhere in the book to "Snape's intervention" saving his life time and time again through Harry's Sixth Year. It gives rise to why Dumbledore was intent on an act that, on the surface, screams "making Snape a murderer" - but if we look deeper, if the Stoppered Death theory is even slightly feasible, is Snape a murderer? If, at Dumbledore's plea, he 'unstoppered deaths path to DD' - isn't that allowing nature to take it's course?
Of course, if this is the case then why do I think Snape intended to die himself? The truth is, these are two separate theories that I am putting out there and I'm no longer inclined to pick what theory I most agree with. Both are plausible. But either way, Snape began to show a huge amount of resistance to either AKing DD or unstoppering his death. The arguement in the forrest still stands on this theory: Snape didn't want to go through with it. I can see DD's anger here because they both knew he was dying - from DD's POV it's either him or BOTH him and Snape. Therefore, he pleads with Snape that he is still needed, and any sacrifice on his behalf at the present time would be illogical. I think Snape's feelings on the matter stem from primal feelings... he does not want to be responisble for enabling his mentors death to finally reach him. Whichever way you see it, unstoppering or not, Snape did not want to be responsible for ending Dumbledore's life and ending the protection and love that Dumbledore had shown him. His hate and revulsion were at himself, and they were true. No amount of theorising on mine or others behalf would be able to prove otherwise. Not that I'd be doing that. When it all boils down to it, I am possibly the most biased person when it comes to Snape anyway.
But think... this theory explains a lot to us - it explains why the Vow was made (Snape and Dumbledore both knew that DD was dying - remember Harry noticed Dumbledore's hand as "dead looking" at the Dursleys, so his journey was already underway), it explains why Dumbledore had hastily given Harry so much information that he previously retained, why Snape was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, why - by excessive planning - DD could protect Snape, why Snape had told Dumbledore that "he took too much for granted and maybe he didn't want to do it anymore" (meaning he'd rather die than allow the potion to take it's effect and kill Dumbledore), why Harry wasn't killing Dumbledore by feeding him the potion (for he was already dying)... and most importantly, just why Dumbledore HAD to plead with Severus in the Astronomy Tower - because at this point, Snape had not agreed to go through with it and planned to sacrifice himself over Dumbledore dying.. and it explains why Snape was so vividly enraged at Harry calling him coward for using the AK curse to murder Dumbledore. In fact, Snape had overcome the most heart breaking decision of his life: not to murder, but to let him go.
Dumbledore was the only one who believed that Snape's soul could remain virtuous through all the batterings it had taken throughout the years. There is a reason why Snape was in the worst pain of his life that night.
I'm now going to get drunk. By myself.
Now, I know I've only read HBP once... it is for a good reason that I have done this, mainly because I want to hang on to any shard of sanity I have left by being absolutely devastated by it the first time around. Therefore, my feelings and theories on certain matters will be somewhat lacking in references - but I have a damn good memory, and regardless of that, if it concerns Snape - I'll know about it.
Again, it's something I've known for quite some time, so don't say 'I knew that AAAAAGES ago' - good for you. Really. *rolls eyes*
We all know Dumbledore was dying throughout the canon Sixth Year, right? It's painfully obvious why Dumbledore kept asking for Snape...
"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death" (PS 102)
I am certain he was. Throughout the year, Snape was "stoppering" (that word looks really weird.. anyway...) DD's death until the time came that he was no longer required to have his life extended. The line: "He cannot kill you if you are already dead" (HBP somepageIdon'tknow) particularly stood out. What if Snape, at the last moment, somehow 'unstoppered' DD's death from taking its toll and therefore Dumbledore was, in fact, already dead by the time the AK curse hit him?
He referred somewhere in the book to "Snape's intervention" saving his life time and time again through Harry's Sixth Year. It gives rise to why Dumbledore was intent on an act that, on the surface, screams "making Snape a murderer" - but if we look deeper, if the Stoppered Death theory is even slightly feasible, is Snape a murderer? If, at Dumbledore's plea, he 'unstoppered deaths path to DD' - isn't that allowing nature to take it's course?
Of course, if this is the case then why do I think Snape intended to die himself? The truth is, these are two separate theories that I am putting out there and I'm no longer inclined to pick what theory I most agree with. Both are plausible. But either way, Snape began to show a huge amount of resistance to either AKing DD or unstoppering his death. The arguement in the forrest still stands on this theory: Snape didn't want to go through with it. I can see DD's anger here because they both knew he was dying - from DD's POV it's either him or BOTH him and Snape. Therefore, he pleads with Snape that he is still needed, and any sacrifice on his behalf at the present time would be illogical. I think Snape's feelings on the matter stem from primal feelings... he does not want to be responisble for enabling his mentors death to finally reach him. Whichever way you see it, unstoppering or not, Snape did not want to be responsible for ending Dumbledore's life and ending the protection and love that Dumbledore had shown him. His hate and revulsion were at himself, and they were true. No amount of theorising on mine or others behalf would be able to prove otherwise. Not that I'd be doing that. When it all boils down to it, I am possibly the most biased person when it comes to Snape anyway.
But think... this theory explains a lot to us - it explains why the Vow was made (Snape and Dumbledore both knew that DD was dying - remember Harry noticed Dumbledore's hand as "dead looking" at the Dursleys, so his journey was already underway), it explains why Dumbledore had hastily given Harry so much information that he previously retained, why Snape was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, why - by excessive planning - DD could protect Snape, why Snape had told Dumbledore that "he took too much for granted and maybe he didn't want to do it anymore" (meaning he'd rather die than allow the potion to take it's effect and kill Dumbledore), why Harry wasn't killing Dumbledore by feeding him the potion (for he was already dying)... and most importantly, just why Dumbledore HAD to plead with Severus in the Astronomy Tower - because at this point, Snape had not agreed to go through with it and planned to sacrifice himself over Dumbledore dying.. and it explains why Snape was so vividly enraged at Harry calling him coward for using the AK curse to murder Dumbledore. In fact, Snape had overcome the most heart breaking decision of his life: not to murder, but to let him go.
Dumbledore was the only one who believed that Snape's soul could remain virtuous through all the batterings it had taken throughout the years. There is a reason why Snape was in the worst pain of his life that night.
I'm now going to get drunk. By myself.