MikeS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anthony Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > >
> > > As for Snape. I wonder if the real plan
> > between
> > > him and Dumbledore was that Dumbledore
> would
> > block
> > > the curse. Snape could not be aware of
> what
> > > happened in the cave and how weak
> Dumbledore
> > was.
> > > Maybe he will turn out to be as shocked
> as
> > anyone
> > > else by his death. Also in Snape’s
> defence
> > “No
> > > unforgivable curses!” he warns Harry, he
> is
> > trying
> > > to protect his soul too!
> >
> >
> > Might that not trigger the Unbreakable
> Vow...
> > killing the person you are not supposed to
> > betray?
>
> Ahhh but the point of my above comment was that he
> wasn't trying to kill Harry, he was telling Harry
> not to use an unforgivable curse, as Harry was
> trying to us cruciate against Snape at the time.
> So it fits completely with your idea that Snape
> made an unbreakable vow to protect Harry. Here he
> was trying to protect Harry from his own anger and
> drawing him to using dark magic. Also right after
> that another death eater attacks Harry from behind
> and Snape yells at them not to!



Okay...we missed each other on this one. I'm talking about him killing Albus being the breaking of an Unbreakable Vow... not helping Harry by telling him "no Unforgivable Curses for you, Potter!".

If he and Albus had an agreement that he would cast the spell at him, then he WOULD have broken his vow to NOT do it. Very tough situation. One thing we know: Snape lived, so we can be quite sure that IF he had an Unbreakable Vow, he didn't break it.



> And thats one of the
> wonderful things about the books isn't it. I've
> made so many guesses about what will happen and to
> be honest most have been wrong, and they probably
> are this time round too


I was convinced for over a year that Harry was a squib, and the reason the spell didn't kill him is because it was a spell designed to use a wizard's magic against him/herself. Since it was used on a squib, Harry was "almost" unaffected. I thought that was why she introduced Filch, for example. Someone pointed out to me about a year or so ago that Voldemort uses the Avera Kadavra against the groundskeeper at the Riddle household. Poof... the amazing vanishing theory.






>
> Its nice to read fantasy books that I can't guess
> the ending to after chapters 5... until these
> books came along, that was rarely happening.


And that is EXACTLY right. I am SO tired of guessing the ends of books and movies! They are SO formulaic. These have kept ahead of me... throwing me just enough bones so I feel like I'm on the right track (I predicted Dumbledore's death) but throwing me enough curves so I feel challenged (the friend who pointed out the "groundskeeper" error in my theory also had Snape pegged as the HBP! If I can get in touch with Dan, I owe him a beer.)

My memory of the book is starting to fade a bit. I plan on rereading all six soon, though. Probably wait about 3 months, and then dig back in again.


Anthony

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him think.