Okay, yeah, there are spoilers here.

[ashinae]

Okay, I know that at least one person on my flist is hating on Snape right now.

Half of me is, too. But the other half is still holding out desperate, desperate hope. Here's a few things I voiced to deerdancer earlier this afternoon, over MSN.

So I think ti's safe to assume that Dumbledore was dying by the time he and Harry return to Hogwarts. He's slumping down the wall, as he's trying to talk Draco out of killing him. Interesting there, too, of course, that he obviously wants to believe Draco isn't at all a killer, either. But, back to Snape. I need to believe in Dumbledore. I know that a lot of people have been pissed off at him the whole time; or at least since Order of the Phoenix. I was annoyed, yes, but deep down, I still love the guy. I need, desperately, to believe that he was right about Snape.

I need very much to believe that all this time, Snape hasn't been a triple-agent. Now, it would, of course, be perfect simplicity for that to be the case; I wouldn't at all blame Rowling for taking this road. It's very easy, very clean, very simple. But on the other hand, one can easily look at it this way: that things turned out exactly as Dumbledore wanted them to.

All the events, with Snape and Dumbledore, even the argument that Hagrid mostly-overheard, still work perfectly reasonably well, from this particular point of view. Snape was able to fill his Vow. Draco was saved from having to become a killer. Dumbledore's death served these purposes; it spared Dumbledore from having to die at the hands of Death Eaters, because that's entirely likely what would have happened, or from dying from the venom he had to drink. He'd begged Harry to kill him. I'm utterly convinced he knew he was going to die anyway. Had another of the Death Eaters killed him -- what would have happened to Draco? Has Dumbledore been able to see good in Draco all along*?

Had the Death Eaters finished off Dumbledore...
a) Draco would have failed in his mission: what would Voldemort have done?
b) Snape would die, yes, for not being able to fulfill his vow?
c) What, exactly, would happen to Harry?

Also of note is the fact that these are two experienced, talented Legilimens we're dealing with here. Dumbledore and Snape had a quiet, and dare I say private, moment between them up there on the tower. Could they not have been frantically discussing the current situation? Could Dumbledore's soft plea been "Severus, please just do it like I told you to, trust me" rather than "Severus, please don't do it, I trusted you"?

Snape's expression of disgust and hated: directed towards himself, rather than at Dumbledore? Or, at the very least, the situation: that after everything he's done for Dumbledore, after trusting him for so long, he's making Snape put himself in a situation where everybody who matters on either side of the battle's going to think that he's betrayed Dumbledore in the worst possible way. Voldemort will, of course, be thrilled. The Order will, of course, very likely want vengeance. Ouch. I'd hate myself and the world too.

His rage with Harry over the word "coward" -- it was because Harry had no idea what he's really just done -- killed the only person who's probably ever believed in him and what he's truly capable of. "How dare this brat call me a coward when I've just murdered the only person who ever, ever gave me a chance?"

The scene with "Bella" and "Cissy" (minor aside: I love these little nicknames, heh)? He didn't give them any answers, at all. They fed him all sorts of information, but he never gave them an inch, which I love. The argument that Hagrid overheard? Undoubtedly about Snape not at all liking what Dumbledore was asking him to do. *rubs hands together gleefully*

They need Snape for more things to come, I'm sure of it. He's on some sort of little mission -- again, or still, or something.

And I'm sure, absolutely fucking sure, that he's still going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice, after everything he's had to sacrifice up to this point.

*sniffles* Oh, man. I love this character so much.


*There is part of me that grudgingly admits that Draco did become more interesting in this book. He's still a whiny pansy-assed little bitch, though a vaguely more interesting whiny pansy-assed little bitch. Harry caught him crying. Was what he said to Moaning Myrtle -- about being bullied, etc. -- true, from his own personal point of view? I do believe he has been terribly bullied by his father. I adore me my Lucius, but he's a right bastard, to everybody including his own son. He probably sees that Draco doesn't live up to his name at all, what with being a whiny pansy-assed little bitch. I think, and it does pain me to say this, that Draco desperately wants his father to love him and be proud of him just as much as his mother does and is.

Comments

[lannamichaels]

Totall agree, on all points. Though a part of me wishes for Evil!Evil! Evil!Snape just so I can do EvilOverlord!Harry and smut them.

Which I might do anyway. Harry's shown a shocking lack of contact with snakes for someone who has an affinity for them.

[ashinae.livejournal.com]

Honey, there should never, ever be anything holding you back from PORN.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_xanthia/]

Much agreement with that. Except for the love of Dumbledore. I don't hate him, and I was certainly pissed with him. But no love for him either. Ehh...

The scene with "Bella" and "Cissy" (minor aside: I love these little nicknames, heh)? He didn't give them any answers, at all. They fed him all sorts of information, but he never gave them an inch, which I love.

Good Godric, I love those women. Deeply. Unashamedly. (Desperately want to be Bella, and totally pegged Cissy for wanting to do anything to protect her baby) And I was just about laughing at how well he handled them. Seriously considering that to be my most favourite chapter.

[ashinae.livejournal.com]

So, so much love for Bellatrix and Narcissa. God, I love the villains in these books, I really do. Well, most of 'em. *G*

Anyway, I sorta see Chapter Two as being one of the biggest clues as to the fact that there must be something more going on.

[creatrix]

I'm being utterly foolish and hoping that since JKR has basically milked pretty much every other myth for what it's worth, the fact that Fawkes "left" means that Dumbledore will return in some way. He reminds me of my Opa. I knew he was going to die, but still....

Snape... I personally think, like you, that Snape and Albus had a Plan. It might not have played out exactly how they wanted, and maybe Snape had to improvise, but I'm willing to not turn my back on Snape yet.

[ashinae.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really do kind of hope that Dumbledore returns somehow; he's Obi-Wan/Gandalf! He doesn't have to return the same way the latter did, but just a minor sort-of appearance like the former... *crosses fingers*

I won't turn my back on Snape until I'm given solid, concrete proof that I am So Very Wrong(tm)!!