Snapedom

I really frowned when I read Dumbledore saying that maybe that one curse wouldn't hurt quite so much. To me it just doesn't gel with previous statements about the Unforgivable Curses. I would never for a moment imagine that a Killing Curse is a legitimate means for euthanasia X/. Its magic comes from deep hatred - of course it must harm the soul, even it it is cast on request. My common sense tells me that Dumbledore was just using any manipulation possible to get his way, as he has been doing with Snape from the start. Of course, on the other hand I shouldn't be at all surpised to find the background/explanation/workings of a spell totally changed in DH as opposed to previous books. It's not exactly the only one. *snork*

I was always partial to the idea that Snape killed Dumbledore on his own initiative, for strategic reasons, and that Dumbledore had told him previously that only Potter was indispensable in this war. So Dumbledore wouldn't really have arranged his own death, but would have consented to it indirectly. I was also convinced that Dumbledore kept Snape around because as a lonely Slytherin among a largely Gryffindor Order, he would be certain to choose his own life rather than to resort to useless and reckless self-sacrifice.

Not so. *sniff*

I think Harry-the-hero's statement (+ pressure from Harry's friends) in favour of Snape would have convinced the Wizengamot; but I am also certain that many people would have continued to have doubts. The ease with which people like McGonagall accepted Snape the Villain as truth still sits uneasily with me, and it's clearly not a good sign :/.