h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What's really amazingly interesting is how I post my ideas and then find later that others post the very same thing as if they hadn't read my posts at all . . .




az

Having read "spinners end" again I don't think there is any way that Snape didn't know exactly what Voldy had ordered Draco to do.

And....

Having now re-read large important parts of the plot I wonder exactly what Snape and Dumbledore were arguing about?

It has been pointed out on various lists I subscribe to that Dumbledore isn't the type to "plead for his life" in fact he describes death as being an interesting adventure or something like that. I doubt he would ever plead for his life. Which leads me to suspect that perhaps he was pleading for something else. Somethnig along the lines off "You have to do it Severus, it is the only way?"

On the other hand mayby Snape is just a git.

Well, I finished it.



I still haven't discovered which of my predictions was correct and DH is fast asleep (it being the middle of the night) so I can't ask him.

Most of the people who say (fondly) that Harry looks like his father are probably looking for the resemblance. Snape also has black hair. But I don't really go for that one.

What a rollercoaster, though. Laughed out loud in places, shouted "NO!" at one point, accidentally turned the pages too fast at times, cried at the end. I can forgive JKR for 4 and 5 now, too - I have a sneaking suspicion that when "time" is called on the whole story, it will turn out that not a word was wasted.

Although having said that, I can see why the first chapter has been cut out of previous books - but it was a good start and worth the wait, and explained the whole Muggle/Wizarding worlds thing admirably.

If Harry goes back to Hogwarts in the next book, Dumbledore's portrait will be there, so it's not a complete goodbye. Spent some time trying to work out if black hand = raven claw ... Have we ever seen Dumbledore slither in to Hogwarts? Could be a whole new theory there.

Sigh. Two years to wait. I've not felt this miserable since I first watched Fellowship of the Ring and realised I had a year to wait for the next instalment.

Incidentally, I had to visit a lot of people today delivering things, and in every single house there was a copy of HBP with a bookmark in it . Isn't it great?

Mol

Black Hand- Raven Claw.

I like it.

On the other hand he had a Griffin door knocker on his office so = Griffin Door.

Mayby...

Right well I have now given this a couple of days thought and it is coming somewhere near completion now but here is my current case for the defense of Severus Snape.

Dumbledore trusted Snape, whilst we are led to think that Dumbledore has a tendancy to trust to much there is absolutly no "canon" indication that he is stupid. Au contraire. Whilst it is possible that Dumbledore had a reason and it was wrong there is no way he would have trusted Snape merely on the kind of "Sorry" that Snape described to Narccissa and Bellatrix in Spinners end.

No doubt we are still to find out exactly what it is that Snape said/did to Dumbledore to make him trust him.

In the "Spinners End" chapter, Snape tells Narccissa that he does indeed know the Dark Lords plan, and makes an unbreakable oath to help Draco. But does he actually really know what he is making an oath about? Probably, but the fact they didn't say it leaves an element of doubt.

Assuming Snape really is a "White Hat", or at the very least still an undecided double agent. Then it follows that Dumbledore would have known in advance about both Dracos orders *AND* the fact that Snape was bound by an unbreakable oath to carry them out. Knowing this Dumbledore would have had to decide who to save himself or Snape. There is no gaurentee given what we know from cannon that Dumbledore would have chosen his own life over anothers.

We still don't really know much background to the "Werewolf Caper" specifically how it came about, and crucially the circumstances in which James saved Snapes life. We already know that saving a wizards life creates a bond and a debt. It could well be that Snape is still in debt to James, and therefore Harry.

We are given some tantalising clues that there may be some mileage in the Snape loved Lily fanon tradition. As well as the Penseive incident we also have the interesting news that Lily was awfully gifted at Potions, something she clearly shared with Snape.

Snape seemed particularly hurt at Harry calling him a coward. Why? I don't get the impression that Dark Wizards and Death Eaters are particularly concerned about such things. Mayby suggesting he isn't one.

During the final chase it could be argued that Snape was still teaching Harry. Namely he was preparing him for the final battle with Voldermort. Surely harry no realises the importnace of learning Occulemency after Snape could so easily block *ALL* of his spells. If Snape can do this then surely the "Best Legilemens In The World tm" is going to tear him to strips. Harry now knows he must learn Occulemency for sure.

We have a brief decription from Hargid about a heated argument between Dumbledore and Snape, but with no further details or explantion. This surely has to be significant and wasn't put in by accident. What were they arguing about? Could it be Dumbledores insisting that when the time is right Snape has to AK him?

Dumbledore pleading to Snape. Doe is sound in *ANY* way in character for Dumbledore to plead for his life in the face of certain death? Really? Everything we have seen in Cannon suggests that Dumbledore would face death with his head held high. However he could well plead for *other* peoples lives and it be in character.

Now Snape who knows Dumbledore probably went off with Harry, who knows Harry has an invisibilty cloak and can see two broomsticks. He knows Draco is there and seemingly is redeemable. He knows that if he turns on the Death Eaters with odds of 4-1 he probably wont be able to save Dumbledore and both the boys. Mayby what Dumbledore is do is pleading "Severus you *know* what you have to do, dont sacrifice the boys AND yourself for an old man". Looks a bit different that way.

It has now been set up in canon that as far as Harry is concerned Snape is irredemably evil. Harry who has never like Snape now *DIRECTLY* blames him for the deaths of four of the people who meant the most to him in the world, His Parents, Siruis and Dumbledore. Given that we have been misdirected about Snape time and time again this just seems all too neat for me. Surely this is a classic JKR red-herring/set-up.

In fact I think I know how this might pan out. I think Snape will basically be a test for the inherrant "goodness" of Harry. Harry is going to be put in a position in bok 7 where he has absolute power over Snape. Harry is going to be tempted to AK Snape. Harry is going to be given the answers to a lot of these questions. Harry is oging to have to make a choice.

May I add a few points, Ferrettbadger?

Dumbledore undid all of the curses he put around the castle as they flew onto the astronomy tower. Would he, at a time like this, leave the place with such little protection? Is he setting up a getaway for Snape and Draco?

Also, I was unsure why DD paralysed Harry. In the context of this masterfully considered conspiracy theory, it seems obvious that DD would not want Harry to do anything 'stupid' by pushing Snape off the tower, for example.

Sorry about the really poor spelling there.

Right I think this theory is likely to keep evolving so I have put it in an A page A4487718 it has already been updated a bit since my post.

"Harry is going to be put in a position in bok 7 where he has absolute power over Snape. Harry is going to be tempted to AK Snape. Harry is going to be given the answers to a lot of these questions. Harry is oging to have to make a choice."

Aha! Just like the choice that Luke Skywalker had in Return Of The Jedi, where if he killed Vader, the emperor would claim him for the Dark Side.

I'm going to keep harping on this one until you believe me.

B

Well we will see. There is undoubtably lots of HP/Staw Wars parrallels. I just think that Snape isn't going to be Harrys dad.

If it transpires that he is then maybe George Lucas will be consulting his lawyers .

That's a good idea FB - so I've put my theory about R.A.B. (short as it is so far) at A4489310 (and linked to your page because I mention Snape a few times, maybe I'll get round to updating it as soon as the HP fansites start discussing it!

Good stuff. I have submitted my editorial to "Mugglenet" in the hope they might publish it.

I have linked your etry to mine as well. Good stuff BTW...

One thing though. Ferrettbadger is double T if that is ok

At the moment I'm choosing to believe the 'Snape is good and a double/triple agent' theory. Which means:

* Dumbledore was pleading for Snape to kill him, as they had probably already discussed.

* Snape knew full well in the second chapter what Malfoy's task was. The only reason it wasn't explicitly stated was because it would have lost any possible tension as to the task - I have to admit I assumed all along that Malfoy was going to try to kill Harry.

* Snape was under orders to maintain his cover in the Death Eaters at all costs. Thus he took the unbreakable vow. I'd guess his later argument with Dumbledore could have been about this, with Snape not being prepared to kill Dumbledore if it came to it, and Dumbledore insisting that it was more important that he keep close to Voldemort.

* Snape would naturally be upset at being called a coward since, if this interpretation is true, it's an incredibly brave thing for him to do, both morally and personally. He's now the most wanted person after Voldemort, he has no friends would would support him, and he can't trust the Death Eaters because he's actually working against them. So he's completely alone.

I think this is a more interesting and satisfying interpretation that Snape just turning bad again (particularly because that turns Dumbledore into a trusting fool).

Indeed.

Plus I think it would be a bad message by JKR, if you start out bad and look bad then you are no redemption.

Again I dont think Jo would go there. She has said she is a christian and the morality of the tale inspired by her faith. That means there is surely going to be an element of redemption in the plot.

The most likely candidates are Snape and Pettigrew I think.

It *has* to be Snape. Pettigrew is too small a character. People care about Snape, and judging by some of the reactions, people want him to do the right thing.

And I still think there's an outside chance that he's Harry's father, although that is, indeed, too Star Wars for words. At the very least, he was probably in love with Lily. Perhaps he helped her with her potions homework. And although her marrying Potter would have been a betrayal, it might not have been enough to make him wish her dead.

And perhaps he hates Harry because he reminds him of Lily.

We will see.

I am absolutly convinced that Pettigrew is going to have a major, major part to play in the conclusion of the series.

<>

I agree.

<>

Yes, I also mentioned this earlier - it seems almost certain this was the case.

Who knows? Perhaps she married James after a fling with Snape - perhaps she was already pregnant when she got married and so Harry's father *might* be either James or Snape . . .


az