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Reader Comments: (Page 10)

We're playing a semantics game, but I think that anyone would another person for their own gain would definitely be considered "less than human"...

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on January 15, 2007 07:57 AM

I think that Snape and Dumbledore did make an unbreakable vow, which i think i mentioned in an earlier post. I think it was when Snape first joins DD. Voldy betrays Snape by ing Lily, Snapes true love. Snape is devasted and needs revenge, and switches to DD's side. DD would immediatley trust Snape due to love and would not need the UV for himself to believe Snape.

However, i think the UV is to protect Snape from situations in the future. Maybe even to protect Snape from Soldy. So that no matter what Snape would stand by DD and protect Harry. Maybe it was Snape who insisted.

I think that if they did have a UV bond, Hagrid would be the bonder. Just a thought.

Posted by Heather from NJ on January 18, 2007 7:52 PM

It's a nice theorie you have goin but alot of it is guess work. i have nothing against them but it is hard to be sure. I believe that Pettigrew was already trying to pay is life back to Harry in GOF. At the very start of the book when Harry is witnessing Voldemorts plans, Pettigrew suggests that they could use any witch or wizard because everyone is against Voldemort. He was therefore trying to prevent Voldemort from ing Harry. He however fails and I believe he keep on trying in little ways like this. Weather he succeeds I dont know. But I hope so!

Posted by Lana on January 20, 2007 9:27 PM

if snape made an Unbreakable Vow with Dumbledore then it would no longer need to be fulfilled because he had ed Dumbledore and snape would not be able to do so for this reason

Posted by Bill from rochester,NY on January 22, 2007 06:26 AM

I think that since Voldemort has lily's blood in his veins he unwantingly can't hurt harry because lily d to save harry.
Also since voldemort has pettigrews hand that means that he also owns his life to harry is bonded with harry.
Voldemort is also wanded with harry in terms of their wand being brothers and i think that is going to play a big part since J.K said that in book 7 we are going to learn more about connections with a wizard and his wand.

Posted by Someone from Somewhere on January 29, 2007 06:12 AM

I think that the Weasley family may have to owe their lives. In one of the books, either 5 or 6, Mrs.Weasly says "Half of our family owes our lives to you Harry." Just a thought.

Posted by babygirl123 on February 3, 2007 1:41 PM

In The Phoenix Lament, McGonagall says "He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape"
Could this reason be that he knew Snape couldn't hurt Harry and, on the contrary, he had to PROTECT Harry?

Posted by Brena from A place on February 3, 2007 4:32 PM

Brena,
I'm not sure about the life as being "ironclad" Afterall it would appear that Barty Crouch Jr. owed his father a life for being rescued from the dementors in Azkaban. And look how he repaid his father.

Posted by Mikey from New Jersey on February 3, 2007 7:06 PM

I don't think what you are calling a "life " is some sort of binding magical contract, or oath like the unbreakable oath. Dumbledore certainly never says that it is. It creates a bond, an obligation, but how that plays out could be very unpredictable.
Dumbledore probably trusted Snape simply because Snape loved Lily. I think all the stuff about James being an arrogant prat that Harry sees in the pensieve with Snape is a red herring. All the time Harry is worrying about James forcing Lily into marriage and feeling upset that James wasn't perfect, we are being led up the wrong garden path. The important stuff is the glimpse we get of Lily standing up for Snape. And how embarrassing would that have been for the guy? An adolescent boy with a secret crush on a girl, being humiliated in front of her? Ouch. Of course he lashed out at her and said the vilest thing he could think of. But under it all I believe he had a crush on her which developed into what Slughorn might have described as obsessive love, a very dangerous and powerful thing. Also unfakeable. It's the one thing he wouldn't be able to hoodwink Dumbledore over, and I'm sure that's why Dumbledore trusted him. Also why he would never tell anyone what his reason was. Far too personal.
I'm sure this is also why Snape is so bitter and unlikeable. He's torn up between his hatred for James, and by extension Harry, and his love for Lily. And of course Harry is Lily's son too, and Snape loathes himself for causing her and resents Harry because she d for him. The man's a mess, but Dumbledore trusted him and I don't think on this, that he'll turn out to have been wrong. The clues are all there, but we've been very cleverly misdirected. Even in the potions scene in HBP, our attention is deflected from what Slughorn says about the nature of love, by Felix Felicis, and later by the probable use of Amortentia by Merope Gaunt on Tom Riddle Senior.

Posted by Elizabeth from Australia on February 3, 2007 11:13 PM

I am at work so I can't look up the exact reference, but I remember a conversation between Harry, Ron and Hermione discussing Dumbledore giving Snape a second chance. Harry said "If Snape is on his second chance, I wonder what was the first?" I think book 7 fill in all kinds of details about Lily,James,Snape and Dumbledore's plan to help Harry defeat Voldemort.

Posted by Patty from Quincy MA on February 4, 2007 06:41 AM

Elizabeth: I always admire how you defend Snape, with precise and accurate words! Whenever I read a comment like that I see my limits with the foreign English language and think I should give up with sending comments! At times it is a bit frustrating.

I am also sending my thanks to you Dave, for letting us "non native English-speaking" Fans have a go at your awesome Website! Compliments also to all of you who bear with us - let me tell you, it takes a bit of courage or a great passion for Harry Potter;-) to know that the whole world is reading and judging a comment maybe not knowing that English is not the native language....!

Since this is an unusual comment I wanted to say how great I find the "Harry Potter references" and top new "Beyond Hogwarts Search"! I am delighted that I also was able to contribute something, so that this great site does excite and thrill all Harry Potter Fans all over the World!

Posted by Mistral from Switzerland on February 4, 2007 07:52 AM

Mistral, I always find something new and interesting in your comments. I for one would never have guessed that English was not your native language. I have never been able to master another language and am in awe of those who can.

Posted by Patty from Quincy MA on February 4, 2007 09:37 AM

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