More Snapish speculations

[pegkerr]

I have a theory We have never heard where Snape was the night James and Lily were killed. If, as seems more and more likely after this latest book, that Snape loved Lily, and the reason he became Dumbledore's man was because he was filled with remorse because Lily was killed, how about this as a theory: what if, because he was filled with remorse that night, he made an unbreakable vow to Dumbledore on that night, to always obey him? That is why Dumbledore knows he can trust Snape. I suggest it because Rowling rarely introduces a new thing (such as a gimmick like the unbreakable vow) without using it several different ways over several different books.

Harry is comforted and filled with pride at the thought that he is "Dumbledore's man through and through." What a discovery it will be for him to learn that Snape was even more so, for years. And to learn that it was love for his mother that put Snape in the position to protect him all those times that Snape pulled his nuts out of the fire.

Gad, I love chewing over theories. Thoughts?

Edited to add: or perhaps this is better: Perhaps Snape offered to make it an unbreakable vow. Dumbledore didn't require it, because he values free will, but the fact that he offered is why Dumbledore trusted him?

Edited to add again: One hole in this theory: who would have been the witness to the bond? It is apparently a requirement when making an Unbreakable Vow. It wasn't McGonagall, obviously, and I can't think who else Dumbledore would have trusted that way, not to mention Snape.

Wild idea: unless it was Trelawney. She has a history of memory lapses.

kenfrequed suggests that Snape made an Unbreakable Vow to Dumbledore to protect Harry (see here). This is lovely and possible, but perhaps a little less possible than my idea, since Snape didn't show up at all or have any interaction with him until Harry got to Hogwarts.

Comments

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you are right. And so much turned on the plot in OotP about Kreacher lying. So that has to be addressed in Book 7.

Also: in GoF: Sirius said (about Barty Crouch's mistreatment of Winky) that you can tell a man's character by how he treats his underlings. Yet he treated Kreacher with contempt; it was part of what led to his downfall. I want that discrepancy to occur to Harry. Part of his task in Book 7 is learning how to forgive, including Kreacher and Snape.

[avengangle.livejournal.com]

Oy vey . . . That's going to be one heck of a task. Obviously you're right, but imagine being seventeen and having to forgive two people who led to the deaths -- or outright killed, ignoring any other information -- pretty much every parental figure you've ever had . . .

[wordsworthy.livejournal.com]

There is a really excellent fanfic story, Harry Potter and the Eye of the Storm that madlorivoldmort recommended to me which is (among many other things) Harry's anger and resentment toward Kreacher and why he has to overcome it. Here it is (http://fanfiction.portkey.org/story/3121/1) (not finished yet, alas, but I'm keeping an eye on it for updates). Read in particular Chapter 7 here (http://fanfiction.portkey.org/story/3121/7), where Remus and Harry have an incredibly good long conversation about why Harry must forgive Kreacher. Highly recommended.