Mal ,'Safe'
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Two things:
Has it been discussed that Snape possibly made an Unbreakable Vow to DD? Can the party who you made the vow too let you out of it?
And I agree with Knut and Fay. Rowling IS a better storyteller than that. DD is dead and might continue to help out via Fawkes or his portrait in the headmaster's office. And because she's a great storyteller, I am totally on the wave that Harry AND Voldemort die.
I've heard that theory bandied about, and it's plausible. Maybe more so than my own romantic Snape/Lily interpretation of events.
Astonishingly, I now do think it's possible that Harry might be dead as a doornail by the end of Book 7. I don't think it's likely, but I do think it's possible; if you'd asked me a month ago I wouldn't have, but now? Who knows.
(Incidentally, this whole 'OMFG!!!111!! YOU BITCH!!!!' response from the 'shippers post HBP boggles my mind.)
(Incidentally, this whole 'OMFG!!!111!! YOU BITCH!!!!' response from the 'shippers post HBP boggles my mind.)
It's Kitten Board all over again. Extra Deluxe Craxo.
I like the Snape was following Dumbledore's orders theory, though I have not yet decided if it's the one I subscribe to. I was discussing it with a coworker, and she didn't believe it, because why would Dumbledore immobilize Harry and make him watch Snape kill him? Apart from the fact that it's yet another awful, traumatic event to which Harry has borne witness, she thinks that Dumbledore must understand that if Harry saw Snape kill Dumbledore, there's no way he could ever trust Snape again. In other words, this is the most unforgivable thing that Snape could possibly do, in Harry's eyes, and Dumbledore must know that. So if it turns out that Snape is still loyal to the Order of the Phoenix after all, Harry is still never going to believe him. I still haven't made up my mind one way or another. But this same coworker insists that Sirius/Remus has no basis whatsoever in the books, so we clearly don't see eye to eye on all things HP...
t waves wand at HBP "Kittens"
Accico Craxy!
Kate, as for your coworker's question: it helps that Harry doesn't trust Snape, for Snape to be more trusted by Voldemort.
Misdirection, yes. There is lots of that. And, OK, I'll concede that there might have been some scheming going on between Dumbledore and Snape, although in part I think the theory comes from a place of Snape-worship. (Ducks.) But, nope on the second chapter. Not saying the first chapter was strong, but as Fay said, it's in keeping with the other books. The second, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically clumsy and heavy-handed misdirection, if misdirection it was. I stand by my opinion.
And I like Aimée's ending.
Ok, I have a Snape/Lily question:
In OotP, Harry sees his dad being a butthead and doesn't Snape, when Lily helps him, call her a "filthy mudblood" or summat?
All white font:
I was thinking about the "Harry won't believe it no matter what" factor, and then I remembered the Pensieve.
Knut, regarding your ducks, I don't worship Snape in any way, and I subscribe to that theory. It makes perfect sense, given the facts and JKR's past storytelling history.