The Mirror of Erised isn't Dead

[such_things]

I have been trying to com up with ways and reasons for Dumbledore to place such vehement and unwavering trust in Severus Snape. Even though Dumbledore and Rowling herself have said he has made several mistakes, it would be very hard for me to believe he would keep an ex Death Eater so close and so into his plans without having very concrete proof

Comments

[fayeval05]

I like this theory, and not only because I like Snape. You're right, DD isn't stupid enough to entrust children to a former DE without some great proof that he has reformed. He certainly wouldn't leave Harry with the man if he had suspitions. As for what Snape would have seen in the mirror, who's to say? DD would not have been able to see what Snape did unless he used legilimency. Only Snape would know what he saw for sure. Maybe he saw himself with Lily. If LV would see himself immortal and all-powerful, and Harry sees his family, then Snape would modt likely be somewhere in the middle.

[such_things]

I agree that Snape would be somewhere in the middle. But seeing Snape with Lilly, if I were Dumbledore, would not make me feel any better. Lol. Most murders and crimes have something to do with either money or sex.

[l_amiral]

Dumbledore could have used Legilimency, and if Snape wanted to prove he reformed he wouldn't use Occlumency against that.

[jdezredel]

Veritaserum

[cantabile]

What is seen in the Mirror of Erised is what the person desires the most, not what has happened or is going to happen. Ron sees himself as Quidditch Captain and Head Boy, yet both seem unlikely now. If they don't return to Hogwarts for the seventh year then neither can happen, if they do then Harry is Quidditch Captain. Harry saw himself with a family. We don't know if he had those actual family members or if they are his wish, his fantasy, his desire.

I think that you are right that there is something deep and powerful that underwrote Dumbledore's trust in Snape, rightly or wrong. What that something is however, I don't reckon we know yet.

[half_blood_fox]

Ron could still be Quidditch captain. If classes resumed, Ron would likely return to Hogwarts, but Harry has already stated that he wouldn't return to Hogwarts even if it re-opened. Ron already shows great prowess in chess, which shows his leadership capability, just as long as he can gain enough confidence.

[melisus]

There is no way for Dumbledore to know for sure what Snape really would see in the mirror if he used that to validate his trust in Snape. Legilimancy is ruled out as well, because Snape could merely lie about not using Occlumency against it.

I believe there is something deeper and more concrete in the reasons why Dumbledore trusted Snape. I also believe that regardless, Dumbledore was wrong to trust Snape.

As to why Dumbledore might have kept an ex-Death Eater so close to him? Wisdom says: Keep your friends close... and your enemies closer.

[such_things]

And Dumbledore doesn't really adhere to that too much otherwise he wouldn't have pushed Tom away when he came for the DADA job.

[half_blood_fox]

Well, there ARE limits to everything. He may want to keep a close eye on Voldie through Snape, but he certainly wouldn't want Voldie anywhere near the kids, teaching them. Snape's dangerous enough to the students.

[eir_de_scania]

Harry saw all his dead relatives, that is, his lost family, in the Mirror. I'm convinced they were his real, actual family, even if it seems a bit unlikely to a Muggle, how could even a magic mirror know what they looked like? Harry himself didn't know.

Making Snape look in the Mirror and check his memories with Legilmency would be prudent, but I can't see DD do it. He was good at seeing through lies, but he also wanted to think the best of everyone.

[such_things]

And wanting to think the best of people would be what made him even give Snape the chance to prove to him that he had good intentions. Not checking would be really really really stupic on DDs part.

[pilly2009]

But even Legilimency wouldn't be foolproof -- Snape is a powerful Occlumens, and Dumbledore is well aware of it.

[such_things]

True. I think we are too ill informed on legilimency andocclumency to make any solid statements on how they could be used.